Chidambaram sets target of agriculture credit of 8 lakh crore for 2014-15

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has set a target of Rs 8 lakh crore of agriculture credit for the year 2014-15.

Presenting the Interim Budget in the Lok Sabha, Chidambaram said that the banks will exceed the target of Rs7 lakh crore of Agriculture credit fixed for the current yeari.e 2013-14.

He also announced that the interest subvention scheme shall continue in 2014-15.

Under this scheme, a subvention of 2 percent and an incentive for 3 per cent for prompt payment is provided. This reduces the effective rate of interest on farm loans to 4 per cent. An amount of Rs 23,924 crore has been released under this scheme so far.