Brasília, April 14, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The Brazilian agricultural sector will need around US$ 19.42 billion in credit at 8.75% annual interest to cover operating expenses and the costs of commercializing the harvest of the next growing season. This request was presented today by the National Confederation of Agriculture (CNA) to the Minister of Agriculture, Roberto Rodrigues, as part of the productive sector's proposal for the Brazilian Agricultural and Livestock Plan.

The private sector's proposal includes suggestions to make access to credit less bureaucratic, create other programs of financing, and to readjust loan limits in existing credit lines, according to the president of the CNA, Antônio Ernesto de Salvo.

Translator: David Silberstein