No more suicides by farmers

When the LDF came to power in May 2006, the farm sector in Kerala was in a very bad shape. There was slump in the price of all agricultural produces except rubber. The callous attitude of the previous UDF Government in the procurement of paddy put paddy farmers to abject misery. Globalisation and consequent fall in the prices of agricultural produces affected farmers of cash crops including those who cultivated coconut and pepper. Successive crop failure and low price for produces led the farmers to borrow more and more from banks and private financiers. The globalisation or efforts of the Central Government and the policies of the UDF Government in the State, which toed the same path, did not take the precarious state of farmers into consideration. They were unable to repay their debts and resorted to the extreme step of committing suicide like their brethren in other parts of the country. The media and agricultural organisations reported that about 1500 farmers had thus ended their life in Kerala.

No sooner had the LDF came to power than the Government started grappling with the sad plight of the surviving families of these deceased farmers. The debts of these farmers were written off by the Government. An assistance of Rs. 50,000/- was given to the dependents of those who committed suicide. Interests on farm loans were waived. In order to save the worst affected paddy farmers Government raised procurement rate of paddy as Rs. 8.50 per kg. in the beginning, which was Rs. 2.70 higher than the support price fixed by the Centre. Later State Government raised it further to Rs. 9 per kg. The Chief Minister called upon the Centre to fix the procurement price of paddy on a par with that of wheat. The State Government declared a support price of Rs. 4.40 per coconut in order to save the coconut farmers of the State from a fall in the price of coconuts.

The State Government had declared a moratorium on the debts of the farmers of all crops until an agency for dealing with the debts of farmers: the Kerala Farmers’ Debt Relief Commission was brought into existence. The Commission was constituted in the State to look into the grievances of debt-ridden farmers and to take steps to free them from the debt-trap. The Commission has powers to intervene and prevent exploitation of farmers and to declare a region or crop as distressed. Depending on the nature of the loan, crop loss and financial position of the borrower, the commission would take appropriate steps to free the farmers from debt. The commission consists of K.A. Abdul Gafoor, Rtd. High Court Judge as Chairman, Prof. M.J.Jacob, M.K.Bhaskaran, Sathyan Mokeri and Prof. Chandrasekharan Nair as members. The commission already has had its sittings in Wayanad, Idukki and Palakkad districts. On the basis of grass root level analysis of the grave problems in these areas recommendations were made by the commission. Government accepted the recommendation to approve Wayanad as a distressed area under the provisions of the FDRC Act. The declaration enables the farmers to avail themselves of debt relief facilities without any hindrance.

A slew of measures undertaken by the Government and increased support given to the farm sector for sustained cultivation of crops have instilled confidence among farmers. The period of depression has gone by. Farmers’ suicide have come to zero level. At the same time the State Government, people and media have to be watchful and resist attempts for liberalised import of commodities we produce.