quot;Crop failure led Maharashtra farmers to commit suicidesquot;

The survey has shown that as against the official figure of 35, 37 farmers committed suicide in the State during the last season and the main reason of the suicides was the economic crisis arising out of crop failure for two seasons continuously and other agriculture-related problems.

The results of the survey have assumed importance owing to the proximity of both Mhalgi Prabodhini and Bharatiya Kisan Sanghto the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party BJP. The State Government has been making light of the issue, saying that the suicides were stray incidents due to social problems that had little to do with crop failure. The State Government also offered an inadequate compensation, most of which failed to reach the farmers.

The team has come up with as many as 19 observations and 12 recommendations, after speaking to 27 out of the 37 affected families in the State. The result of the survey was made available to the press here today by Sharad Kelkar, vice-president and director, Indian Agro Economics Research Centre and team leader.

Among the important observations made by the team are: the wet drought, unseasonal rains and hailstorm specifically in Vidarbha since the last two years made a big dent on the prospects of agriculture in State. Most of the farmers who committed suicides did not have irrigation facilities and were dependent on only one crop.

The price for the agriculture produce received by thefarmers is quite inadequate as compared to the production cost. For example, the price of cotton has continued to be Rs 2,100 per quintal over the years, inspite of the production cost almost doubling.

The farmers spend heavily on farm labourers and those in the nuclear family system acutely feel the pinch of the cost of production. The banks do not provide the requisite loans to the farmers and they have to seek loans from the village money-lenders, who charge very high interest rates 8211; upto even 80 per cent.

The farmers are completely dependent on the retailers of seeds, fertilisers and insecticides for any technical information, thus leading to supply of spurious products. Social problems such as problems in marriage for young farmers was also clearly noticed by the team. Based on these observations, the team concludes that the main reason behind the suicides were directly related to economic crisis arising out of crop failure.

The team recommended that the farmers should be given prices based onproduction costs and an additional 20 per cent profit thereon. Specifically for cotton, the team has recommended a minimum price of Rs 4,000 per quintal.It has also recommended the Crop Insurance Scheme, provision of loans at the commencement of the cropping season through co-operative banks, lowering of the rates of interest, increase in the amount of loan, encouragement to take up parallel agriculture-related enterprises and assurance of provision of good seeds.