Brasília, 3 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Minister of Agriculture, Pratini de Moraes, has released the government's Farm Plan for the 2002/2003 harvest, which sets aside R$21 billion (US$7.3 billion) for planting, commercialization and investments in the agriculture sector. The amount is a 26% increase over last year's plan. The minister declared that more funding will be earmarked for family farming.

The new plan expands financial assistance to industrialization by cooperatives, irrigation and reforestation.

Most loans under the new plan will have interest rates of 8.75% annually. "Fixed interest rates are what farmers need. They can pay them. These low-interest loans will help farmers produce more and guarantee them an income," said the minister.