Farmers rehabilitation package in two months : Pawar

Hyderabad, Apr 10 (UNI) Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said a special package for farmers, to be implemented in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala, where the rate of farmers suicides were high, would be announced in two months.

Addressing the press here after chairing a consultation meet on farmers rehabilitation package with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and Maharastra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Mr Pawar said the package would be implemented in six districts in Maharastra, 15 in Andhra Pradesh, six in Karnataka and three in Kerala.

Stating that the allocation for the package would be a few thousand crore, he said 1,835 farmers had committed suicides in AP, 910 in Karnataka, 981 in Maharastra and 201 in Kerala for the last five years.

He said the Agriculture Ministry, after discussing the issue with the Finance, Rural Development, Health and Water Resources Ministers and the Planning Commission, would give a presentation of the package to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh soon.

The package would be implemented after the approval of the Union Cabinet and the Parliament, he added.

Karnataka Agriculture Minister Bandeppa Khashampur and officials concerned also participated in the meeting.

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