Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Farmers’ discontent

My heart goes out to the family of the farmer who lost his life in police firing in Karnataka (editorial “Cultivating discontent,” June 12). What a paradox — a farmer losing his life while demanding inputs for sustaining his livelihood.

I am reminded of the wisdom of our forefathers who preserved seeds from their harvest of a good season. These were the equivalent of the Provident Fund in the organised sector. Obviously, the farming sector is in dire need of welfare measures with appropriate security and long-term benefits.

Nirmala Narayanan,

Bangalore

In a country where farmers are already in distress and committing suicide in large numbers, the death of a farmer in police firing is condemnable. What is expected of a responsible government is not a bullet but a solution to the root cause of shortage of fertilizers, seeds and other inputs. This can be achieved by providing timely credit, seeds, fertilizers, and requisite knowledge and training in the field of agriculture, which will be possible by strengthening agricultural institutions.

Kapil Kumar Singh,

New Delhi

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