This refers to “We need small farmers, shandies” (Business Line, April 5). The article has captured the field-level problems of small and marginal farmers. The rural employment guarantee scheme should be made mandatory for farm activities during farming seasons.

This will make labour available for small and marginal farmers without scarcity, and at a subsidised rate. The credit figures projected for farm loans are without logic. With shrinkage of cultivable land due to increased housing and industrialisation year on year, the target of government to scale up farm loan by more than Rs 1 lakh crore every year is a mystery.

Further, bank after bank boasting achievements of farm credit targets is a crude joke on the farmers. Our farmers do not need any support. If the government can assure that it will lift the agriculture produce at a predetermined price at the farm gate, farming will flourish. Our farmers will continue to be the backbone of the country.

S. Veeraraghavan

Madurai

Power woes

This refers to the editorial “An untenable tariff” ( Business Line , April 5). Your suggestion that promoters of Mundra power project should make an exit as they are unable to supply power at the contracted PPA rates may appear pragmatic but is flawed.

The cost of exit will have to be borne by power consumers in this or that fashion. The exit of some promoters of Dabhol Power Company tells us that the losses of the then Maharashtra State Electricity Board and public sector banks who lent money to DPC will have to be borne by the public. The case of Adani Power just underscores the fact that fixation of tariff has to be linked with landed cost of imported fuel.

Narendra M Apte

Pune

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