Govt thinking to reduce interest rate on crop loans: Sharad Pawar

The Union government is thinking to reduce 1% of interest rate from the present 5% on farmer crop-loans upto Rs3 lakh, Union agriculture minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar said today.Pawar was addressing a farmers rally at Pimpalgaon Baswant, about 25 kms from here this afternoon after felicitating senior Congress leader and former MLC and Zilla Panchayatpresident Dulaji Nana Patil for completing his 100th birthday today.

Pawar said that Lasalgaon, Pimpalgaon Baswant are major onion producing centres. "When onion prices declines or rises, I would be the target of criticism as the Union agriculture minister. But I know problems of the farmers since I am working on various agriculture-related organisations since past many years," he added.Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal, other state ministers and local NCP leaders were present.