Alerted over two consecutive suspicious deaths of debt-ridden farmers in distress within a period of one week, State Government is to promote ‘Per Drop-More Crop’ theory in Jharkhand in order to provide more profits to them with minimum expenditure.
“After recent incidents which took place in a certain area in the State, focus now is being given on the theory of ‘Per Drop-More Crop’ among the farmers having less farm land and the areas where there are minimum facilities of irrigation so that more profits could be obtained. Under this theory, horticulture utilising techniques of shed nets, poly houses and drip irrigation will be promoted so that maximum utilisation of water could be done by using minimum resources,” said a official in the Agriculture Department requesting anonymity.
Incidentally, Keleshwar Mahto and Baldev Mahto allegedly ended their lives by hanging himself and jumping into the tree respectively after they failed to clear multiple loans taken from various sources and consecutive crop failures.
The official further said that maximum focus will be the hilly and less irrigated areas of the State. “Awareness campaigns will soon be launched in the focus areas very soon so that more and more farmers get benefitted adopting the high yielding techniques,” he said.
Besides that, 1.5 lakh quintals of grains will be distributed this year among the farmers on subsidized rates depending on the farmer and the area in which the seeds are being distributed, the official said. “Strict instructions have been given to officials to maintain transparency in distribution of seeds among the farmers up to their satisfaction level,” he said.
Officials in Agriculture Department also revealed that the bank officials have also been directed not to force farmers in any case to clear their loans.
The Department is also motivating the farmers to plant fruit bearing trees and activities such as poultry farming, pig farming and dairy farming in order develop extra source of income, said the official.
Kaleshwar Mahto, 44, committed suicide at Semal Beda village on June 10 by hanging himself from a tree near his field in broad day light, while 40 year old Baldev Mahto of Sutiambey village allegedly ended his life on June 15 after jumping into the well near his house.
Apparently both the farmers ended their lives due to pressure of mounting bank loans taken from Kisan Credit Card and damage of crops. Both of them also belonged to villages under Pithoria Police Station.