Centre committed to resolve farmers' problems: Pawar

Pune, June 24: The Union Government has taken a serious note of the spate of suicides by the farmers in major states like Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and would make concerted efforts to provide financial support to them.

Talking to mediapersons after inaugurating the new office of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) here, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has been committed to reducing the burden on the farmers as both the houses of Parliament had discussed the farmers' suicides problem and also found out the reasons behind their suicides.

A meeting of four chief ministers from the four states was held in Hyderabad recently, which tried to apprise the reasons -- crop failure, financial difficulty, monopoly of crop and other social problems -- behind their suicides.

Regarding Maharashtra, Mr Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief, said a financial package has been decided by the UPA government, which will very soon be reaching to them to alleviate their difficulties. He particularly mentioned the six districts of Maharashtra like Wardha, Yavatmal, Amrawati, Buldhana, Varsi and Akola, which will be given financial aid so as to avoid any further hardship on them.

The Maratha strongman also said the co-operative and regional banks should devise ways and means to advance loans to the farmers despite they had been defaulters. This would go a long way in reducing the difficulties and problems.

To a query regarding the rising prices of wheat, sugar and pulses, the Minister said the government has taken necessary steps to control them.

On the wheat import issue, Mr Pawar supported the government's decision and said ample stocks were available in the country to meet any eventuality.

UNI