The general manager of the Agricultural Lending Foundation, Mohamed Dougan, said on Sunday that next year's budget will include 8 million dinars in interest-free loans, which will be directed towards modern irrigation systems issues and the involvement of entrepreneurial youth via a system of programs.
Dougan added in statements to "Al-Mamlaka" TV that 25,000 farmers are insured against the risk of death with a portfolio exceeding 125 million dinars.
He explained that over two years, 245,000 dinars were compensated for 46 cases of death.
He pointed out that an account was established for those not covered by insurance for urgent humanitarian cases according to specific criteria, with an exemption amounting to 500 dinars, benefiting 120 cases in its first year, and the fund is expected to expand in the future.
The board of directors of the Agricultural Lending Foundation, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and head of the council, and attended by his deputy, the general manager of the foundation, and council members from the public and private sectors, approved the foundation's budget for 2026 on Sunday. An lending budget of 70 million dinars was adopted, a nearly 10 percent increase compared to 2025.
The value of loans granted during the year was about 64 million dinars out of 65 million, with an achievement rate of 98 percent, benefiting 12,880 farmers, a 25 percent increase compared to 2024.
The loans covered most activities of the agricultural sector, focusing on encouraging modern farming, supporting value chains, and empowering women and youth, while the value of interest-free amounts granted during the current year was about 11 million dinars.
Regarding collections, the council clarified that the amounts collected until December 15th of the current year reached about 61 million dinars, out of the collection plan of 70 million, with an achievement rate of 87 percent, and expectations that the collection value will rise to about 65 million dinars by the end of the current year.
