Farmers’ Association has alleged that commercial banks are behaving in a dictatorial manner by lodging cases at the DRT court against the defaulters even after the announcement of Vidharbha package.

Addressing a news conference here on Wednesday, Association leaders said that the Central Government had implemented the package in 6 districts in the State including Chikmagalur to stop the farmers suicide incidents.
Even the Reserve Bank of India had given clear instructions to the commercial banks that they should waive off the interests, allow the farmers to repay only the principle amount and if the farmers fail to repay the loan, then the loan must be transformed into mid term loan and then to provide farm loans on requirement.

But the commercial banks, brushing aside these directions have been harassing the farmers to repay the loan amount.

In this regard the leaders urged the government to take notice of the issue immediately before the coffee growers take up the extreme step of committing suicide.

They said that coffee business earns maximum foreign exchange and employs large number of people too. If banks do not respond to the problems of the coffee growers, then the leaders said that they would stage a protest.

They said that a delegation headed by Association State President Puttanaiah will meet the Governor in January and submit a memorandum to him demanding for the implementation of Swaminathan Committee report and to provide compensation under natural calamities to mixed crops like Cardamom, Aracanut and Chillies.

Association District President K K Krishnegowda, Principle Secretary Gurushanthappa and others were present.