NDA govt destroyed farmers interest

Basti, Apr 18 (UNI) Former Prime Minister V P Singh today alleged that the erstwhile National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the centre destroyed the interest of farmers by opening up market for 1400 agricultural commodities to foreign companies.

Addressing a Farmers Empowerment Seminar here Mr Singh said that by this decision the erstwhile Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had wreaked havoc with the farmers interest.

The apathetic attitude of the present UPA government at the centre had further compounded the sorry state of farmers in the country, he added.

Claiming that the developed countries were providing more agro subsidies than India, Mr Singh expressed concern over rising cost of agricultural production and lack of government support to farmers to meet the increased cost.

Speaking at the seminar, Rashtriya Lok Dal president and former union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh alleged that as many as 5,000 farmers have committed suicide during the last six years and 71 per cent of agrarians no longer wanted to pursue agriculture due to heavy losses.

UNI XC-ARS VD RS1916