Jaipur, April 16 -- The Rajasthan government has approved to extend the repayment deadline for short-term, interest-free crop loans disbursed during the Kharif 2025 season till May 15. The decision is expected to benefit over 55,7000 farmers across the state. Minister of state for cooperation (Independent Charge) Gautam Kumar Dak said the proposal has received clearance from the Finance Department. Farmers who availed loans through Central Cooperative Banks via PACS and LAMPS will now be able to repay their dues by May 15, or within 12 months from the date of availing the loan-whichever is earlier. Earlier, the repayment deadline was March 31. The extension comes in response to persistent demands from farmers seeking more time to settle their dues. Dak said that if the deadline had not been extended, loans worth approximately Rs.2,184 crore taken by around 557,000 farmers would have been overdue, farmers would have lost the benefit of the zero-interest crop loan scheme and would also have been liable to pay a 2% penalty on the outstanding amount. He urged farmers to repay their loans within the stipulated period to continue availing the benefits of the interest-free scheme....