Farmers have remained a neglected lot, rues Sonia Gandhi

Ahmednagar, Feb 22 (UNI) Congress president Sonia Gandhi today admitted that farmers in the country have remained a neglected lot and much needs to be done to improve their condition.

She was speaking at a farmers rally hosted under the aegis of the Maharashtra Krishak Sabha here today.

However, she stressed the State and Centre were making every effort to ameliorate the problems of the ryots. The farmers are the providers of food and yet they, themselves, continue to remain a deprived lot, Mrs Gandhi said, while adding that the government was implementing many programmes to change the situation.

Citing an example, she said loans to farmers had been increased to Rs 1.15 lakh and it was proposed to be increased further. Many other schemes pertaining to agriculture and horticulture are also being implemented to provide relief to the farmers, she added.

Referring to the plight of cotton farmers in Maharashtra, Mrs Gandhi noted that it was necessary to resolve their problems immediately.

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