Himachal Pradesh helps farmers with loans for better storage

Shimla: The atmosphere of Himachal Pradesh is adequate for the horticulture yield. Therefore, the state government always tries to boost the production of fruits to strengthen the economies of both states as well as farmers. In this regard, the Himachal Pradesh government has taken a new initiative to help farmers by providing loans for setting up Controlled Atmosphere (CA) stores through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme.

The state’s agriculture department will have to coordinate with banks so that farmers can receive financial support. Only selected farmers can avail this opportunity, and they will be selected at the block level for this initiative. Banks will offer loans at a 4% interest rate for the construction of CA stores under this scheme.

Also Read: Bihar govt launches ‘Beej Masale Yojana’ to help small farmers

These stores will give farmers a chance to stock their fruits and vegetables during the low market prices and wait till the prices of their products soar in the market. CA store facility will definitely help farmers to surge their income by selling their fruits and vegetables at high prices. Farmers can also purchase refrigerated vans with the loan. These vans will ensure that produce remains fresh during transportation to markets, leading to higher prices for fresh crops.

The agriculture department has been in touch with banks to help farmers avail loans. Additional interest concessions will be given to such farmers who made the repayment on time. This scheme is set to boost farmers’ income, and post-harvest losses will also be reduced due to the improvement in the storage and transportation systems.