JOIN USChief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said as many as 800 farmers had committed suicide in Karnataka.
“We have implemented many farmer-friendly programmes. Similarly, the co-operative sector should be part of the cause by implementing fare prices for agri-products and creating market without the interference of brokers,” he said.
Siddaramaiah said that the government would increase the compensation from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh to the families of farmers who committed suicide in the State.
“We cannot value life in terms of money. It’s learnt that farmers are driven to suicide mainly due to their inability to pay debts. Hence, the compensation will be increased to support the families,” Siddaramaiah said at the inaugural of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka State Co-operative Consumer Federation here.
He said the State government had given loans to as many as 21 lakh farmers and had plans to provide loans to more farmers this year. “For this, we need the support of the Central government. Besides, the loan given by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has also come down. The State has written to the bank seeking funds,” he said.
H S Mahadevaprasad, Minister for Co-operation and Sugar, said the government planned to include one member from every BPL family in the co-operative association.