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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | AP's cotton fields turn deathbeds

AP's cotton fields turn deathbeds

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published Published on Nov 5, 2015   modified Modified on Nov 5, 2015
-The Times of India

GUNTUR: Jinkala Satyanarayana of Pedapalem village under Atchampet mandal took four acres on lease and sowed cotton in 75 per cent of the plot. In the remaining acre, he opted for chilli cultivation. He spent about Rs 3 lakh for agriculture operations, but the crop failed to his great shock.

With the 45-year-old depending entirely on moneylenders to secure loans, the debts rose to Rs 5 lakh even before his produce fetched returns. Unable to withstand the pressure from his creditors, Satyanarayana consumed pesticide in the fields about 20 days ago. He is survived by wife Mangamma and two college going children.

Similarly, 12 farmers most of whom grew cotton in Guntur district resorted to the extreme step over the last month. As many as 10 of them were below 40 years age and could not withstand constant haranguing by moneylenders. Young farmers find it tough to convince the money lenders especially post crop failure. The rural credit flow is negligible thanks to the government bungling a much-touted agriculture loan waiver scheme. No wonder, cotton growers across AP are committing suicide in the fields almost everyday.

"The ruling dispensation is to blame for the agrarian crisis in the state. The way it implemented the loan waiver scheme neither helped the farmers to manage their previous debts nor allowed them to secure fresh loans," said CPM district secretary Pasam Ramarao.

He lashed out at the TDP regime for not taking steps to curb the moneylenders even after seeing the spate of suicides. The government also failed to extend the monetary benefit to the kin of the deceased on a war-footing, Ramarao rued.

According to information, cotton production was severely hit in Guntur, Krishna and Guntur districts due to the adverse climatic conditions. The total output is expected to drop from the previous 32-36 lakh bales to just around 24 lakh bales during the current season. The average yield from each acre has reportedly dipped to as low as 10 quintals against the normal yield of 15-17 quintals.

A cotton grower would have got Rs 45,000-Rs 55,000 if he got at least 15 quintals per acre. This would have left him with little gain or no loss as input cost on each acre is close to the aforementioned amount. With the production plunging to around 10 quintals, farmers fear about repaying their debts and committing suicides.

"About 26 suicides were reported from Prakasam district in the last two months but the field officials confirmed only six as genuine (due to crop failure) to escape their responsibility. Such false reports could aggravate the situation," observed YSRC legislator Janke Venkata Reddy. The Markapuram MLA demanded ex-gratia for all the bereaved families and emphasized that the government should not be trying to pick holes in each case.

However, agriculture minister Prathipati Pullarao claimed to be taking every possible measure. He advised the farmers not to incur losses by selling their stocks to the local dealers as CCI has opened procurement centres in all the cotton growing districts. He said that MSP of Rs 4,100 per quintal would be a big relief to the farmers as they could recover at least input costs if they brought the stocks to the CCI centres.

The Times of India, 4 November, 2015, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/APs-cotton-fields-turn-deathbeds/articleshow/49654092.cms


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