Kerala CM blames UPA Govt. policies for agrarian crisis

Kochi, May 16 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achutanandan today blamed the ''wrong economic policies'' of the UPA Government at the Centre for the crisis in the agriculture sector in the country.

Inaugurating the 42nd state conference of the Kerala Gazetted Officers Association here, Mr Achuthanandan said the duty-free import policy of the government had increased the problems of the farmers.

The wrong economic policies of the Centre were forcing farmers to give up agriculture and there was a shrinkage in the land under paddy cultivation, he said.

Stating that Kerala had seen ''unprecedented development'' during the last two years of LDF rule, the chief minister said that farmer suicides had declined, more PSUs were recording profits, the IT sector was booming and the government was able to recover encroached lands.

Referring to the increase in land prices in the state, the chief minister said that 'hawala' money was being invested in real estate.

UNI ARC KKS2010