KASKI: The government will give agricultural loans at low interest for tiding over the food shortage occurring everey year. National Planning Commission announced this at a seminar here on Wednesday.

It said small irrigation projects will be expanded and agri-loans given to target groups.

The food shortfall is 300,000 to 400,000 metric tonnes annually.

NPC member Dr Ramdev Singh ex[pressed concern over the decrease in the area of agricultural land and pointed out it was happening due to the plotting of land in the name of urbanization and housing.