The farmers should be provided with easy banks loans and the real growers should utilise the funds in productive sectors, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said today.

The government extends agricultural loans at only 4 per cent interest, but the farmers cannot avail bank loans as the informal sector attaches tough conditions to such funds, he said.

The real farmer should be given loans on easy terms, the minister said.

Razzaque spoke at the agriculture loan disbursement programme through smart card organised by AB Bank at the upazila auditorium in Tangail's Madhupur.

On the occasion, the minister distributed agricultural loans to the farmers and thanked AB Bank for providing loans to farmers on easy terms through smart cards.

AB Bank distributed agricultural loans to 1,500 farmers of Madhupur and Dhanbari upazilas at 4 per cent interest on easy terms.

Each farmer has been provided with a loan of Tk 1 lakh.

AB Bank President and Managing Director Tariq Afzal chaired the event where Tangail Deputy Commissioner Jasim Uddin Haider, Madhupur Upazila Parishad Chairman Sarwar Alam Khan Abu, Dhanbari Upazila Parishad Chairman Harunar Rashid Hira and Madhupur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shamima Yasmin also spoke.