Question : SUICIDE BY COTTON GROWERS

(a) whether the Cotton growers have committed suicide to escape from money lenders due to the cheaper imported cotton; and

(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this re gard?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)

(a) & (b) : The suicide committed by farmers is mainly reported from the States of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka and the most common reason for committing suicide as reported by the State Governments is indebtedness of farmers. There is no report from any of the State Government reporting import of cheaper cotton as a cause of suicide by cotton growers.

To ameliorate the conditions of the farmers, the Government of India has approved a Rehabilitation Package amounting to Rs.16978.69 crore, for 31 districts in September 2006, consisting of short term and long term measures. The Package is being implemented over a period of three years. It aims at establishing a sustainable and viable farming and livelihood support system through debt relief to farmers, improved supply of institutional credit, crop centric approach to agriculture, assured irrigation facilities, watershed management, better extension and farming support services, improved marketing facilities and subsidiary income opportunities. For alleviating the hardship faced by the debt stressed families of the deceased farmers, an ex-gratia assistance is being provided @ Rs.50 lakh from Prime Minister`s National Relief Fund to each district covered by the Package. With effect from. Kharif 2006-07 crop loan upto a principal amount of Rs. 3.00 lakh at interest rate of 7% per annum is being made available to the farmers and the Government provides necessary interest subvention for this purpose.

To assist the cotton growers, a Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC), is being implemented by Govt. of India with the objective to increase production, productivity and to improve the quality of cotton.