Brasília, 9/10/2003, (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Bank of Brazil (BB) will make another R$ 3.4 billion available to farmers this month to finance the 2003/2004 growing season, begun in July. By the end of October, the BB will have disbursed a total of R$ 10 billion - 70% more than during the same period in 2002, as the Bank's press office announced yesterday (8). Also according to the press office, the BB intends to apply R$ 20 billion during the growing season that ends in July, 2004.

Overall, 33% more resources will be available than in the 2002/2003 growing season, when the BB lent R$ 15.1 billion for investment, operating expenses, and commercialization. Of the total allocated to the current harvest, R$ 3.3 billion are intended for small producers enrolled in the National Program to Support Family Farming (Pronaf), and the remaining R$ 16.7 billion will finance other producers. (DAS)
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