The Centre is considering farm loan waiver at the national level on the lines of the write off Karnataka has undertaken, said Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar.

Speaking at the valedictory of the centenary celebrations of the co-operative movement in Mysore on Thursday, he said a high-power committee headed by Dr Radhakrishnan had been set up and discussions involving Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Chidambaram and himself were held in this regard.

Report
“The committee submitted its report two days ago, but I am yet to go through it,” he added.
A package worth Rs 16,000 crore was given to bail out the textile industry six years ago.

The Centre is committed to the uplift of farmers and measures will be taken to reduce the loan burden of farmers.
The Prime Minister has also made it clear that they should be extended full support, he added.

Farm suicides
Farmers need to think of involving their children in other occupations, he said.

Also, given the context of agricultural lands being acquired for non-agricultural purposes in major cities, including Bangalore, it is better that farmers find an alternative occupation for their children and educate them properly. “This is one way to curb farmer suicides,” he felt.While stressing the need to divert more resources towards irrigation, agro-processing and marketing facilities in the country, Mr Pawar wanted the co-op movement for farmers’ welfare strengthened.

There is a need for the sector to be ‘autonomous’.

Surplus cane
The Centre plans to give concessions to sugar mills from next year.

“I am aware of the state of sugarcane farmers in Karnataka.”

There is a serious need to hold talks with farmers on need-based production of cane. While 190 lakh tonnes of cane is in demand, the production has already reached 300 tonnes this year. Further, 40 lakh tonnes from last year’s production is still lying in godowns. There has also been a slump in the demand in the global and national markets.

Drop
“So there has been a drop in cane and sugar prices. This has to be understood,” Mr Pawar said. In fact, it is difficult to start sugar mills next year. But the Centre has the best interest of farmers in mind. A support price of Rs 80-90 a tonne meant for sugar factories may have to be transferred to the farmers.

Also, use of ethanol will be made compulsory in oil companies and they will have to pay Rs 21.50 a litre. This apart, the Centre will give bank guarantees to sugar factories suffering losses for the past 15 years, he said.