Soln to farmers debt problem in 4 months: PM

Helsinki, Oct 13: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said his government was concerned over the large number of farmers' suicides in the country and added the government was trying to find solutions through providing loans and irrigation to reduce the vulnerability of farmers if the harvest of their primary crops is meagre.

In an interview to a Finnish magazine Kuvalehti on the eve of his four-day visit,to attend the India-EU-summit the Prime Minister said during his visit to Western Vidharbha, he understood the basic problem of the area is that farmers are dependent on a single crop, cotton. They have not yet started using technology that would increase productivity such as irrigation system and he suggested these measures be adopted.

He said the government had also launched a national inquiry into farmers' debt problem to find solutions. ''I believe that within four or five months we will find a solution to the problem,'' he added.

UNI