Presence of livestock could check suicidial trend of farmers: Katyal

Ranchi, Nov 4 (UNI) Indian Society of Soil Science president J C Katyal, also the vice-chancellor of the Choudhary Charan Singh Haryan Agriculture University, today said presence of livestock in farmers' houses could check suicidal trends among them.

Talking to UNI, Mr Katyal said, ''It sounds a bit funny but has been proved that suidical tendencies among farmers with livestock was less then those who did not have livestock.'' Refering to farmers' suicides in Maharashtra, Mr Katyal said most of the farmers did not have livestock.

''It is not only a stable source of income but also a means of emotional support as the presence of livestock makes the farmers' lives much routined,'' Mr Katyal said, adding that looking after the animals reduced the frustration.

Mr Katyal, who was here to participte in the 72nd national convetion of soil scientists organised at the Birsa Agriculture University, said even the Swaminathan Commission had corroborated this fact.

UNI