Kochi (PTI): Agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan on Friday said many suggestions in the study report by M S Swaminathan Research Foundation on measures to mitigate agrarian distress in Idukki district of Kerala, if implemented, could improve economic activity and also the well-being of the farmers.

The Foundation was asked by the Union Agriculture Ministry to review the position relating to the ecological security of Alappuzha and Idukki districts and to suggest steps for enhancing livelihood security in an environmentally sustainable manner.It submitted its report to the Centre and also to the Kerala government on Thursday, Swaminathan told mediapersons, on the sidelines of a function here.

As a result of high production cost of major crops and its volatile prices, small farmers who constitute the majority of the farming population have accumulated debt burden exceeding Rs 700 crore.Over 80 percent of this debt was due to crop loans to small and marginal farmers, he said.

The study had recommended a total package of Rs 1876 crore out of which Rs 750 crore would be used for waiving loans, he said.

On whether futures trade is affecting farmers community, he said 'at the moment according to Abhijit Sen Committee it has not affected either favourably or unfavourably. It could be favourable if you have infrastructure'.

'At the moment there is a belief that the futures trade could lead to speculative holding. Speculative holding while it is not benefitting the small producers, it could cause some problem to the consumer', he said.

The study has made number of suggestions including how to improve crops, storage and warehousing facilities, he said.