Short and long-term measures to be taken for farmers: PM

Amravati, June 30 (UNI) Recognising the problems of farmers, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today promised that both long and short-term measures would be taken to resolve the problems of farmers in Vidarbha where over 1,600 farmers have committed suicides during the last five years.

Addressing the meetings of kin of farmers, who committed suicide, at Dhamangaon in Amravati district and Waifad in Wardha district during his first leg of the two-day tour to vidarbha region to know the woes of the farmers, Dr Singh said a special relief package, protecting the larger interest of the farmers would be announced tomorrow after reviewing the rural situation with State and Central government oficials. The package would carry delivery of seeds to farmers, providing livestocks, dairy development farming and providing self-employment to youths. ''Mai aya hun to kuch de ke Jayunga'' (Since I have come here, I will give something and then leave), he said.

He said his government was planning to give remunerative price to farmers for their farm produce. ''I will go back to Delhi and discuss with the officials as to how the remunerative price can be given to farm produce,'' he said.

He said he wanted to know the problems of farmers not only in Vidarbha in Maharashtra, but also the entire country, and he would visit Bihar and Orissa soon. He had last year visited Andhra Pradesh and some districts in northeast states.

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