Agriculture needs support Every party claims to ameliorate the problems of farmers .All the policies and measures have not reduced farmers suicide on the increase The big rally of farmers in Delhi did not receive any sympathy but mild rebuff and ridicule The agriculture must receive the status enjoyed by industry .Loans that are resulting into huge NPA and borrowers get away with tacit support of our leaders. The loan write off to the farmers is a pittance compared with industry. The industrial products prices are neither regulated or dictated by Govt,. The glut in the market does not lead to distress sales nor reduction in productions. The Govt. states that there is decrease in population and increase in productions The Govt could have intervened in paying for discouraging of productions
The cartel of merchants create artificial glut in the market and force distress sales below production costs, In the absence of marketing, transport ,storing and processing facilities, lack of export incentives, the farmers with burden of loans are thus forced .Even the minimum support price is violated The fact is that the price of inputs like seeds, fertilizers, water, electricity or diesel, irrigation water machinery has increased many folds that makes agriculture not viable for farmers unable to understand income and expenditure mechanics. Besides agriculture us subject to vagaries of nature. The insurance scheme is loaded against the interest of the farmers and too costly. The children of farmers are migrating to cities in search of jobs to give up non remunerative profession. The subsidies are cornered by rich farmers, not tenanted farmers with smaller holdings ones and those that borrow from banks, Most lenders to poor farmers are private The provision of rs 6000= per year in next budget with 2 acres of land is adding salt to the wounds of the farmers plight. The doubling of income promise is a dream perpetuated by BJP, unless the farmers and agriculture receives a fair deal, the largest employment generating sector will remain in doldrums It is unfortunate that the agriculture has no lobby or dedicated leaders to support their cause and highlight their grievances inside and outside parliament Nelson Lopes Chinchinim