The Hindu Business Line : Minister blames TDP for farmers' suicides in AP

AS many as 670 farmers ended their lives in Andhra Pradesh during the past seven months after the Congress assumed power, but they should be blamed "solely on the Telugu Desam misrule," according to Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, State Agriculture Minister.

At a press conference here on Sunday, the minister said that 1,360 cases of suicide had been reported from rural areas and after investigation, it was found that in 670 cases, the farmers had committed suicide due to indebtedness.

"We have paid the ex gratia in almost all the cases barring 10-15. In those cases, there is some difficulty in identifying the legal heir. Therefore, they are held up," he said.

Admitting that the number was on the higher side, the minister, however, passed on the blame to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

"During eight to nine years of TDP rule, farmers were completely neglected. There was not even a record of how many farmers had ended their lives and the possible causes of the death.

"We are trying our best to infuse fresh hope into the demoralised farmers of the State and taking all steps to improve their lot. Still, unfortunately, the suicides are happening. They should, however, be blamed on the TDP," he explained.

Elaborating on the measures taken by his Government to help the farmers, the minister said the Government had set up the Jayati Ghosh Committee to look into the factors plaguing agriculture in the State.

"The committee has submitted the report and we will act on them. They have been referred to various departments and they will be placed before the Cabinet," he said.

He said that the State Government would set up an agricultural technology mission.

"The objective of the mission would be to enable the farmers in the State to face the future challenges, especially in view of the post-WTO scenario," he said.

During the kharif season, he said, Rs 7,050 crore had been disbursed to farmers as crop loans — Rs 2,000 crore more than the usual Rs 5,000 crore.

"We have succeeded in curbing the menace of spurious pesticides almost to the extent of 90 per cent.

"As for spurious seeds, we are enacting a new law with more punitive measures. The law has been referred to the Union Government for approval," he said.

Mr Raghuveera Reddy said the State Markfed had procured chillies worth Rs 100 crore in the market intervention exercise.

Stocks worth Rs 30 crore had been liquidated. He said the cotton prices had fallen, but the Cotton Corporation of India was active in the market by procuring the crop to hold the price line.

The Markfed had also procured maize to help the farmers, he added.

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Minister blames TDP for farmers' suicides in AP