Green fields in Punjab can deceive, MP from state tells RS

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) Let not green fields in Punjab deceive one about the condition of farmers in the state.

That was a fervent appeal made to the Centre by MP from Punjab Varinder Singh Bajwa of the Shiromani Akali Dal in the Rajya Sabha today while taking part in the discussion on farmers' suicides.

''The Punjab farmer cannot see his crop withering. He undergoes great hardship to keep it green, and that gives a misleading picture about the state of agriculture in Punjab,'' said Mr Bajwa.

''The Centre's assessment committee comes and seeing the fields green, thinks that all is well with the farmers of the state, but that is not correct,'' he said.

So far, 5000 farmers in the state had committed suicide, and 200 in Sangroor district alone, said Mr Bajwa and demanded that the Centre ask the state government for a record of suicides by farmers.

There had been less than normal rains this year; there was power shortage, and water level has gone down requiring deep boring and bigger tube wells that cost much more than one needed to lift water from normal depth, and on top of that, the paltry increase of Rs ten in the Minimum Support Price for Paddy, which was a joke with farmers of Punjab, he said.

Moreover, he said, MSP was declared after the paddy came into the market, while this should be done at the time of sowing.

He demanded the Centre to come forward to mitigate the plight of the farmers and give a special drought package to the state.

UNI NAZ PK GC1710