In order to contain the suicide of farmers, the Central government should implement report of M S Swaminathan, eminent agricultural scientist, said retired professor of Tirupathi Agriculture University Venugopal Rao, on Monday.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the “Negilayogi Nenige Yake” programme organised jointly by the  Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha and Akhila Bharata a Janavadi Mahila organisations.

If appropriate steps are not taken to increase the farm income, then the agrarian crisis cannot be addressed. The suggestions given by Mr Swaminathan to increase the farm productivity needs to be implemented with immediate effect, he added.

Import of agricultural products from outside countries at prices lower than those produced by the Indian farmers should be banned.Also, seeds, fertilisers, manure and other farm requirements should be given to the farmers at the right time and at subsidised prices, he said.

Moreover, fair prices should be provided to the farm produce and they should also be given loans at lower interest rates.These are some of the suggestions made by M S Swaminathan, explained Mr Venugopal Rao.

Even as the sugarcane growers in Bidar were in crisis, sugar was being imported from Pakistan. Those at the helm of affairs, both at the Centre and the State are in favour of the capitalist forces and the rich. Thus, as a result, there are no farmer friendly policies  formulated by the government, observed Mr Rao.

Throughout the country the civilian society is apathetic to the problems of the farm community. The representatives of the people, officers, intellectuals and professors are insensitive to the farm crisis that is looming large in the country, he critiqued.

In order to investigate the suicide of farmers, the Andhra Pradesh government has instituted a commission. Also, it has been stated in the report submitted by the commission that some of the farmers have been committing suicide for the sake of compensation.

Moreover, apart from the loss in the farm sector, excessive drinking and splurging of money among the farmers have also added on to the agrarian crisis, observed Mr Venugopal Rao.

Responding to the report submitted by this commission, members of the various raitha sanghas in Andhra Pradesh, farmer leaders and others set up another commission, probing into suicide of farmers.

After a detailed study of the situation, the commission submitted a report,which clearly indicated that the reason for the suicide of farmers is the agrarian crisis, he opined.

Also present on the occasion were Prantha Raitha Sangha President Sidappa Maithre.