The Odisha Krushak Mahasangha on Monday urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to adopt practical measures to resolve farmers’ problems so that they would be assured of sustenance against natural calamities and would not commit suicide.
“Due to rampant corruption in various agricultural subsidies, economic and social development of farmers in the State has not been possible to the expected level. Unless a realistic policy is adopted, farmers’ problems will be lingering only,” Mahasangah president and former MlA Bibhudhendra Pratap Das said in a letter to the Chief Minister while suggesting some measures.
Das, a former MlA, suggested that farmers be given loans at 1 per cent interest rate for a period of six months. And if a farmer becomes unable to pay during the stipulated period, then he may be charged the usual interest rate for repayment of loans. “For this, the Government should establish a special bank other than the Cooperative Bank. If implemented, farmers will not be bankrupt and will not commit suicide. Agricultural produce will increase and price rise will be checked,” Das suggested, informing that some banks in Japan and other countries, World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are providing loans to farmers at 1 per cent interest rate.
He also suggested that farmers be encouraged to use bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides in order to increase fertility of land. Such farmers should be provided pensions from a Government Insurance Company premium of which be given by diverting fertiliser subsidy money. He mentioned that entrepreneurs be encouraged to set up agro industries and cold storages in order to create a good market platform. For this, they should be provided with Government land and electricity connectivity at the hydro power production cost rate, Das suggested.
The Government may take premium for crop insurance with land revenue and make each revenue village as a unit for the crop insurance.
As 80 per cent of major, medium and minor lI points and 90 per cent of WHS have failed to irrigation facilities, lifetime of such irrigation systems should be fixed and bank guarantee be taken from contractors and responsiblility be fixed to concerned Government officers for bad works, Das mentioned in the letter.
He said agriculture land should not be utilised for housing and other purposes in view of rapid increase in population.
“In view of the OUAT’s revelations that 20 to 30 per cent of paddy production will be reduced at 42 degree Celsius, the Govenemnt should take steps to create massive forests. The use of forest materials for buildings should be banned. Forest mafias should be booked under the NSA Act,” Das suggested further.
He requested the Chief Minister to recognize contribution of individual farmers and felicitate them on Independence Day and other public day celebrations.
Das too suggested that poor people should be given rice subsidy money through their Postal saving bank accounts so that irregularities in supply of subsidy rice can be checked.
In a statement, Das criticised the State Government for not conceding to the reports that farmers are committing suicide due to crop loss and loan burden. “According to National Crime Record, as many as 4,000 people have died in the last 14 years. But the Government claims that no farmer has died due to crop loss and loan burden. If the National Human Rights Commission will conduct inquiries, truths will certainly come out,” pointed out Das.