372 farmers committed suicide since April 2006

Bangalore, July 10 (UNI) As many as 372 farmers had committed suicide, unable to bear the burden of debts, since 2006 April, Karnataka Legislative Council was informed today.

In reply to Congress member Mr K C Kondaiah, during question hour Mr Bandeppa Kashampur, State Agriculture Minsiter informed the House that the state government had disbursed a compensation amount of Rs one lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased farmers.

The Minsiter also informed that the State govenrment had initiated several measures to put an end to the stress of farmers, including facility to get farm loans at a low rate of 4 per cent through co-operative institutions. The State government has also taken initiatives for market intervention whenever the prices of farm products fell below the support price.

The Union govenrment had also sanctioned rehabilitation package programme in six distrits where farmer's suicide cases were reported more in Hassan, Chickmagalur, Chitradurga, Shimoga, Belguam and Kodagu.

The State government will also bring in an amendment to the Karnataka Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees to encourage competition in buying farm products. The move would also help boost the prices of agricultural commodities, he said.

UNI