Already reeling Covid-19 crisis, farmer’s suicides pose another challenge to MVA Govt

@RishikeshChava9

Mumbai: The State Government which is already facing the Covid19 crisis the farmer’s suicides is a new challenge they have to tackle head-on. In last six months 1,074 farmers have committed suicide between January to June, which roughly comes to daily six farmers committing suicide. In corresponding period last year 1,340 farmers had committed suicide due to crop loss.

As the Corona crisis keeps spreading nationwide and the lockdown the farmers of state have to face huge losses, especially the fruit and vegetable farmers. 

Due to the lockdown in many areas fruits and vegetables it is difficult to export the produce to the city markets. With the perishable commodities rotting the farmer’s face financial damage. Even in the retail and small scale markets the prices of commodities have crashed. 

Former Agriculture minister Anil Bonde alleged “Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government stopped the Baliraja Chetna Abhiyan which was meant to stop farmer’s suicide.” He further said “During the Covid crisis only farming is taking place, now even this activity is facing hurdles. When a farmer goes to bank for a loan he made to run from pillar to post, making demands of him for various papers.”

On the cotton issue he said “Cotton produce is not yet sold completely. There was a Cotton Development Program approved by Central Government of Rs 450 crores State government revived it only to dismiss it into just Rs 139 crores.”  He also said “Project’s and Plans are being snatched away from farmers and therefore they are in dire need of help. Government should wake up and help these farmer’s.”

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Speaking to the News 21 Vidharbha’s Jan Andolan Samiti head Kishor Tiwari said “In 2016 when we started Shetkari mission at that time 2000 farmers had committed suicide. Last year 1,340 farmers had ended their lives as against this 1,074 farmers have committed suicide in the state in the last six months.” “Yet farmer’s issues are not solved and their income remains low” he added.

“Unless and until farmer’s produce does not get assured procurement prices through which can sell their products in market their problems will not be solved” remarked Tiwari.

“Farmers are facing problems due to Corona crisis and lockdown” he pointed out. “Central government and state government should be ready to face worldwide recession’s consequences” he cautioned further. 

“Administration must investigate the reasons of these suicides. We should strive for a future where farmers do not commit suicide at all”, he added.

Sanjay Deshmukh (name changed) a farmer from Aurangabad remarked “I am not getting loan from the Bank. People from nearby villages took loans worth 2-3 lakhs but I am not even getting a loan of Rs 50,000. 

“What have I sinned? for not getting loan “he questioned. An exasperated Sanjay Deshmukh remarked “I am thinking about committing suicide in front of Mantralaya with my family.”-By Rishikesh Chavan