The State Bank of Vietnam has decided to freeze bank loans borrowed by cattle raisers for one or two years to help them overcome difficulties caused by foot-and- mouth disease, according to a local animal health agency on Friday.

Under the decision made by the bank on Thursday, households, individuals, enterprises, farms and cooperatives which have borrowed bank loans for raising pigs can have their loans frozen for one year, and those who have used loans to breed buffaloes, bulls, goats, sheep or deer, for two years, said the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Also, the raisers can access new bank loans, the department noted.

As of Thursday, foot-and-mouth disease was detected in 312 communes of 26 cities and provinces nationwide, affecting over 9, 600 buffalos and bulls and nearly 2,500 pigs, said the department.

Source: Xinhua