February 12 2002, 14:00 APK-Inform

Government unhappy about commercial banks attitude to farmers

Very few experts comprehend why interest rates grew from 30 to 35% over a year given that inflation indicator was only 6% and NBU discount rate was around 12.5% and "disaster" loans turned out to be only 6% of all loans allocated.

The VR Agrarian Committee Chair Kateryna Vashchouk promised to insist on 20-22% loans, as she can see no reason and economical grounds for banks to ask for more. Part of the problem she sees in the fact that the state budget stipulates refunds to the banks anyway and she will ask to treat the farmer fairly and compensate only those banks, which work with reason and for national economy.