Farmer bodies demand resolution of agrarian crisis

Seek crop loss compensation, interest-free loans for ryots

Several pro-farmer organisations, including Akhila Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and Rajya Raitha Sangha, on Monday, staged a protest, demanding the government to address the farmers’ woes on a priority basis

“Farmers are suffering severe loss due to the vagaries of the weather and the price crash. The governments - state and the Centre - should come up with permanent solutions to the agrarian crisis,” the agitators said.

The agitating members said, they will stage protests in front of the houses of MLAs if the state government fails to take concrete decisions to introduce pro-farmer programmes in ongoing winter session of the Assembly in Belagavi. The major demands of the agitators include, Rs 10,000 pension for senior farmers and fixing of scientific price to all crops as per the recommendations of the M S Swaminathan Commission, waiver of all farm loans, disbursement of interest-free loans, establishment of farmer-friendly market at gram panchayat level, insurance for all farmers, establishment of a National Commission to study the costs of cultivation and farmers’ income among others.

The agitators alleged that various programmes of the government were not reaching the real beneficiaries due to the apathy and negligence of GP authorities. The government should initiate legal action against the errant officials, they demanded.

Though the state is reeling under severe drought, the state and Union governments are not bothered to address the issue or to take measures to protect farmers. The Central drought study team, which visited the state recently, failed to do justice to the farmers and to the state. The Union government is doing injustice to the state by not sanctioning funds to tackle drought, they alleged.

Kisan Sabha convener M C Dongre, Raitha Sangha district president Kottur Srinivas, farmer leaders H R Naveen Kumar and Keshav Murthy among others were present.