Mayawati wants diesel at reduced price for UP farmers

New Delhi, May 29 (UNI) Stating that most the of farmers in the state use high cost diesel to run tubewells for irrigation, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today demanded that the Centre provide the oil to farmers at a reduced price and take the high cost into account while fixing food grain prices.

In an address to the National Development Council delivered through her Agriculture Minister Laxmi Narayan, Ms Mayawati said 68 per cent of the agricultural land was irrigated through private tubewells, only 13 per cent of which was electrified.

The running cost of a diesel operated tubewell was five times higher than the electrified tubewell, she pointed out.

She said the state needed heavy investment in power generation and distribution. However, till the state was able to provide adequate power to farmers, they should be compensated by providing remunerative prices for their produce.

The Chief Minister also wanted credit for farmers at least at the rate of four per cent.

She said while some sectors like Khadi and cottage industry were getting credit at four per cnet interest, agricuture on which 70 per cent of the people were dependent was given credit at higher interest rate, and as a result farmers become hevily indebted.

The state wanted that the earlier process of fixing minimum support price for farmer's produce needed to be reexamined.

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