Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: Tribal Corporation handed over cheques to buy mini tillers to ten farmers belonging to schedule caste (ST) category at a program held at Khotigao.
At a function held at the Khotigao panchayat hall, the officials of the Tribal Corporation distributed cheques to ten farmers who had applied for a loan from the corporation.
The Tribal Corporation finances 90% of the cost of the agricultural equipment like tillers, brush cutters, tractors or any other equipment used for agricultural purposes, informed Daya Gaonkar, sarpanch of Khotigao panchayat and one of the associate directors of the Tribal Corporation.
The interest applicable on loans extended by the corporation is just two per cent while the banks charge more than eight per cent, he said.
Many a time, the farmers from the ST community find it difficult to get bank loans, and even if they succeed in obtaining a loan from the bank, they end up paying high amounts in terms of interest and the loan processing charges, Gaonkar said.
Therefore, as a solution to high interest rates, if a bank loan is taken, the Tribal Corporation offers the farmers belonging to the ST community the loans at two per cent interest per annum.
Farmers should take advantage of this scheme and go for mechanization in farming to improve their income, Gaonkar emphasised.
Those present during the event were Kirtiraj Naik Gaonkar Zonal Agriculture Officer, Canacona Taluka, Durgadas Gaude chairman of Tribal Corporation, Umesh alias Daya Gaonkar sarpanch of the Khotigao gram panchayat and Associate Director of the Tribal Corporation, panch members Nagesh Velip and Manohar Velip, Tribal Corporation officials Romaldo Gonsalves, Rohidas Diwadkar, Mario Pereira, Peter Fernandes, deputy sarpanch Bhavika Desai and all the panch members of the panchayat.
Devidas Gaonkar proposed a vote of thanks.
