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Farm commission will be set up in December: Minister

Staff Reporter

Says details of farmers who committed suicide being collected

PALAKKAD: Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran has said that a farm commission for the State will come into force in December to provide relief to farmers.

Speaking at a convention of `farmers in debt' organised by the All India Kisan Sabha here on Saturday, the Minister said "no revenue recovery proceedings for realising the loan taken by farmers will be initiated in the State. Action will be initiated against officials who ignore the Government order".

He said the Government was collecting details of the farmers who committed suicide and had already collected details in 931 cases. Details in another 500 cases in four districts were being processed.

The Debt Relief Act would be passed in the current Assembly session. An amount of Rs.100 crore was allotted for debt relief in the budget.

The Government would bring laws to control private moneylenders who exploited farmers taking advantage of their plight. An alternative system of loans for farmers would be set up while taking steps to control moneylenders, he said.

Mr. Ratnakaran said the Government had asked the Central Government to provide interest free loans to paddy and coconut farmers. The farmers should get remunerative price for their produce to come out of the present crisis.

"The loss in ensuring remunerative price should be borne by the governments," he said.

Adopts resolution

The convention passed a resolution on farmers' rights. A resolution moved by Kisan Sabha State general secretary Sathyan Mokeri made 11 demands to help the farmers.

This included writing off farm loans up to Rs.1 lakh; farm loans at four per cent interest; interest free loans for poor farmers; controlling private money lenders and one-year moratorium on farm loan repayment.

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