The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Kurnool News : All-party meeting held on ryots' suicide

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 27, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool

All-party meeting held on ryots' suicide

By Our Staff Reporter

KURNOOL, MAY 26. An all-party meeting was conducted here on Wednesday to discuss the problems of farmers and analyse the reasons for suicide. The Collector, Ajay Jain, the MLAs, MP and representatives of various political parties attended the meeting.

The core issues that affected the farming community came up for discussion which included the crop insurance policy, the attitude of the banking industry and money-lenders. The Nandyal MP, SPY Reddy, the MLAs, Shilpa Mohan Reddy (Nandyal), Saiprasad Reddy (Adoni), Sujathamma (Dhone), M.A. Gafoor (Kurnool), Gouru Charita (Nandikotkur), Katasani Rambhupal Reddy (Panyam), Sikhamani (Kodumur) and the representatives of various political parties took part in the deliberations, which was presided over by the Collector.

Mr. Shilpa Mohan Reddy said the Government and various agencies involved in helping farmers should think of remunerative agriculture. The Government should stop indicating support price or advisory prices but suggest remunerative prices for each commodity.

The speakers said the banks were not farmer-friendly. Agriculture loans attracted higher rate of interest while loans were offered to business people and industrialists at competitive rates of interest. They said the loans sanctioned by banks were inadequate to complete agriculture operations. The MLAs suggested that the Government have control over the rates of interest on loans to farmers by private money-lenders and public sector institutions.

Several persons suggested loan waiver as immediate step to help farmers.

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All-party meeting held on ryots' suicide