New Delhi, Sept. 25 -- The Government of India has approved a one-time interest-free loan of Rs 50,000 per barn for Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh, aimed at providing immediate liquidity to farmers and supporting their working capital needs amid changing global market conditions, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Friday.

The assistance, under the Interest-Free Working Capital Assistance Scheme, is expected to support around 44,000 growers, involving a financial intervention of about Rs 220 crore. The assistance is proposed to be provided directly to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), the ministry said.

The government said the intervention comes as the global tobacco market faces chang...