'Better price for produce will check farmer suicides'

About 90% of farmer suicide cases can be prevented if price policy which envisages better price for farm produce and the work on filling water in lakes are initiated, said writer Chatnalli Mahesh.

Speaking at a state-level seminar on ‘Reasons for Farmers' Suicides and Solution’, organised by Indian Psychiatric Society Karnataka Chapter, at AIT College recently, he said, “Heavy rain and drought continue to haunt the farmers. The untimely rain affects the farming community.”

“The authorities should look into the issue of supplying water to farmers. The farmers are affected by the scarcity of water. Farmers who are dependent on borewells for irrigation are in distress now,” he added.

He said, “Minimum price should be fixed for farm produce. The government should ensure that the crops are not sold below the minimum price. The officials from agriculture and horticulture departments should visit farmlands and give their suggestions to farmers to improve farming.”

The producers should get the highest benefit from the sale of the produce. There is a need to check middlemen menace in farming, he added.

The authorities should listen to the woes of farmers and find a solution to it, he said. The farmers should not lose heart. Those who have no knowledge of farming are engaged in delivering speeches on farming, he added.

There is a need to check the migration of youth to cities in search of employment by reviving farming, said Mahesh.

Farmer Chandre Gowda alleged that in the name of facilities for farmers, the government is engaged in looting farmers. The farmers are made to run from pillar to post to claim subsidy amount, he added.

AIT principal Prof Jayadev was present.