The Government approved a special loan package of USD 27 million to rice millers to buy rice paddy from farmers. The total includes USD 20 million from the government’s budget and USD 7 million from the state-run Rural Development Bank. On the loans provided to rice millers, the Government will charge an annual interest rate of 8 percent. The measure aims to boost prices paid to farmers, particularly in view of the upcoming 2016 main harvest.