Fulfill loan-waiver promise: Farmers ask government

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 24

Farmers from different districts, who came to be part of the Kisan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), said the new government should waive off their loans. 

  They said the new government should also address other issues such as subsidy on seeds and fixing of minimum support price of crops.

Hardial Singh from Chaunda village, Sangrur district, said the new government had made numerous promises to them during their election rallies and now is the time to fulfill all those promises to bring some relief to farming community.

“Loan waiver is the major issue that is haunting the farmers of the state and many are forced to commit suicide due to the same. The Congress before coming to power promised to waive off loans of the farmers, and this is what we want at the earlier. The producer of food should not be forced to end his life because he is neck deep into debt,” said Hardial.

Ajmer Singh from Barnala, another farmer, said the input price in agriculture was more while what they get at the end was minimal. 

“The prices of pesticides should be brought down and subsidy should be given on seeds. Life of a farmer has become very tough these days,” he said. 

“There should be increase in the minimum support price of the crops. For instance, we are getting only Rs 3,500, while the same produce is sold further in the market for Rs 7,500. Profit for the farmers should also be kept in mind while fixing the prices,” he said.

Gurdev Singh from Maur village, near Sunam, said intensive use of insecticides and pesticides was damaging the soil and humans as well. The new government should take up steps to promote organic farming and use of manures, instead of pesticides.

Gopal Singh and Ajmer Singh from Lambi village, hometown of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, said: “Badal has done good work for our district and farmers, and the only expectation from the new government is waiver of loan.”