Farmers Demand Loan Forgiveness Amidst Crisis, Seek Fair Compensation

Farmers in Karnataka demand loan forgiveness amidst floods and droughts. They seek fair compensation, a higher procurement price, and the inclusion of crops in relief categories.

The Federation of Farmers Association and Sugarcane Cultivators Association have urged authorities to forgive agricultural loans taken by struggling farmers. Speaking on Saturday, December 2, Kurubur Shanthakumar, the president of the sugarcane cultivators association, emphasized that farmers have been grappling with floods and droughts for the past three years, leading to crop losses and financial woes.

Shanthakumar criticized the disparity between the treatment of industrial and agricultural loans, highlighting that while industrial loans are often classified as Non-Performing Assets (NPA) and waived, farmers face pressure to repay in full.

A large gathering of farmers from across the country is expected, and an ultimatum will be issued to both the Central and State Governments to address farmers' concerns, including a higher procurement price.

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Shanthakumar highlighted the importance of having a set minimum support price that is legally binding for all agricultural products, aligning with the recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee report.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the government's response to drought relief, describing the provided ₹2000 as insufficient. Instead, he urged for a more fair compensation system that considers the actual losses incurred by farmers, proposing an amount of ₹25,000 per acre.

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Among other demands, the farmers seek the inclusion of commercial crops like sugarcane in the notified crops category, enabling them to claim damages from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

Additional demands include a pension for all farmers, 10 hours of uninterrupted power supply, continued subsidy on solar pump sets, and the withdrawal of cases against farmers involved in last year's agitation in Delhi. Attahalli Devaraj, Baradanpura Nagaraj, Kurubur Siddesh, and other local farmer leaders were present during the announcement.

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