Bangalore: Union Government would launch Kisan call centres and a Krishi channel next month (January 2004) in an effort to enhance knowledge delivery mechanism directed at the farmers, Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh announced today (Dec 26, 2003).

He told reporters in Bangalore that the state-wise call centres, which would operate round-the-clock through toll free line, would address queries and questions of farmers regarding agriculture and allied sectors.

Singh said the Jai Kisan channel would also deliver local-specific agriculture and allied sectors' knowledge and information. Initially, the channel would be started with an hour-long programme using the infrastructure of Doordarshan.

Both the initiatives would be unveiled before next month-end, he said. "Government realises that the knowledge and information needs of farmers is very high."

Noting that the Government has announced that interest rate on agricultural credit for crop loans should not exceed nine per cent, Singh said SBI has taken a decision to offer such credit at 8.5 per cent.

He said a "revolutionary" insurance scheme, which would provide support to the farmers for loss in income from adverse incidence of crop yield as well as market price fluctuations, has been launched on a pilot basis in 18 districts in 13 States for wheat and rice during Rabi 2003-04 season.

He earlier inaugurated the office building of Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fishery in Bangalore.