Brasília, 7/16/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Banco do Brasil branches around the country have begun releasing financing for the 2003/2004 harvest. A total of R1.3 billion will be available in this first phase. Interest rates on Banco do Brasil harvest financing runs from 8.75% per year on normal loans, to 4% per year for loans that are part of the Family Farming Program (Pronaf).

Eventually the bank will make R$20 billion available for harvest loans, an increase of 33%, compared to the 2002/2003 harvest. Out of the total, R$3.3 billion will go to family farming loans, and the remaining R$16.7 billion, to regular farming operations. (AB)