A ‘Mahapanchayat’ of farmers’ associations in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka will be held here on May 25, to evolve a strategy for coming out of the adverse conditions for agriculturists across the country.
Suicide
Suicides by scores of farmers in recent years and the struggle by their poverty-stricken families due to denial of government support will be a main discussion topic.
The ‘Mahapanchayat’ will take stock of the situation arising out of farmers migrating in large numbers to cities to work as labourers for survival.
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In the backdrop of absence of remunerative price for agricultural produces and inability of farmers to settle bank loans, the Land Acquisition Bill of the Union Government would deal a deadly blow to the already struggling agriculture sector, said P.K. Deivasigamani, president, All India Turmeric Farmers’ Association, here on Friday.
There was a danger of several lakhs of farmers committing suicide if the government failed to write off pending loans. The ‘Mahapanchayat’ will devise ways and means to prevent such suicides through collective efforts of the associations, Mr. Deivasigamani said.