A planning is under process to disburse small loans to small entrepreneurs in the fisheries and livestock sector by the government. "The ministry is preparing a proposal in this regard," fisheries and livestock minister Abdul Latif Biswas told on Thursday. Loans ranging from Tk 10,000 to 30,000 would be given to unemployed but trained youths and farm entrepreneurs, he said.
"If the entrepreneurs want to raise livestock, poultry or farm fish, half of their loans will be provided in cash, while the livestock with the rest," Biswas said. The fund will, however, be a revolving one. It will begin work by coordinating all the running microcredit programmes under the ministry.
"The programme, if approved, could start operating in as early as July," Biswas said. The programme will emphasise raising goats and sheep, as entrepreneurs are seen to show more interest in such livestock. Officials said the ministry had been disbursing financial aid and loans to the sector, but there was no coordination. The target of this microcredit project was to create employments for youths not involved in farming.
