The Hindu Business Line : Steps to solve farm woes of Wayanad

The Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, said here that the Government had already decided to write off the loans availed of by those farmers who later committed suicide. Besides, moratorium had been declared on repayment of loans and steps initiated to extend interest relief to the farmers.

He assured leaders of the farmers' forum from Wayanad, who had discussions with him, that debt relief would be extended to the farmers who had been rendered unable to repay the loans owing to crop loss or fall in prices. Measures, including writing off of loans, would be taken on a case-by-case basis, he said.

The Chief Minister said that the Government was committed to ensure the protection of the farmers in Wayanad and frame long-term solutions to the peculiar problems faced by them. The Cabinet would discuss in detail the suggestions submitted by the forum in this regard and take decisions at the earliest, he added.

The Government would disburse before Onam the balance amount of the Rs 50,000 compensation announced for the dependents of the farmers who committed suicide. The previous government did not even inform the Centre of the suicide of farmers in the State, he charged.

The Centre had now announced a special package for Wayanad, Kasargod and Palakkad districts following the efforts of the present Government. Once the package is implemented, the agricultural problems in these districts would be solved to an extent, the Chief Minister said.

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