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Friday, March 14, 2003 (Hyderabad):
The fact that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is putting Andhra Pradesh on the world IT map means nothing to farmers in the state.
A severe drought, poor yields, unsustainable returns and huge debts have broken the farmers' back in the state. And yet again, suicide deaths by desperate farmers are being reported from all over the state.
The story of Katkur village in Warangal district is in a way, the story of Andhra Pradesh. This is a village of 2,000 farmers, who grow cotton, paddy, chilli and maize. The combined debt on them is more than Rs 1 crore. In the last 10 years, 28 farmers have attempted suicide because their crop failed and they could not repay their debt. Eight of them died.
Life of despair
Sugunawa's only son, 24-year-old Ramesh, drank pesticide after the cotton crop failed. Ramesh has left his 19-year-old widow and parents with debts amounting to Rs 1 lakh.
"The debt burden became too much and he decided to put an end to it all," said Sugunawa.
At least 25 suicide deaths of farmers have been reported from all over Andhra Pradesh in the last two months alone. Many of them were cotton farmers unable to cope with huge debts and mounting electricity tariffs in a year of severe drought.
"The moneylenders and bank people come and forcibly collect the dues. No one is ready to buy the land because it is a drought area. Then there is a major burden of current bills. The farmer becomes totally frustrated and drinks pesticide. This is happening to everyone here," said Mohammad Azimuddin, a farmer.
"Banks are supposed to lend 18 per cent of their total banking credit for this priority sector of agriculture. But it is hardly 11 to 12 per cent. Because of this, the farmer is compelled to take loans from private moneylenders at exorbitant rates of interest," observed V S Rao, Agriculture Minister, Andhra Pradesh.
In the last six years, virtually every year has witnessed a rural agricultural crisis in Andhra Pradesh with over 500 farmers killing themselves.
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The fact that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is putting Andhra Pradesh on the world IT map means nothing to farmers in the state.
A severe drought, poor yields, unsustainable returns and huge debts have broken the farmers' back in the state. And yet again, suicide deaths by desperate farmers are being reported from all over the state.
The story of Katkur village in Warangal district is in a way, the story of Andhra Pradesh. This is a village of 2,000 farmers, who grow cotton, paddy, chilli and maize. The combined debt on them is more than Rs 1 crore. In the last 10 years, 28 farmers have attempted suicide because their crop failed and they could not repay their debt. Eight of them died.
Life of despair
Sugunawa's only son, 24-year-old Ramesh, drank pesticide after the cotton crop failed. Ramesh has left his 19-year-old widow and parents with debts amounting to Rs 1 lakh.
"The debt burden became too much and he decided to put an end to it all," said Sugunawa.
At least 25 suicide deaths of farmers have been reported from all over Andhra Pradesh in the last two months alone. Many of them were cotton farmers unable to cope with huge debts and mounting electricity tariffs in a year of severe drought.
"The moneylenders and bank people come and forcibly collect the dues. No one is ready to buy the land because it is a drought area. Then there is a major burden of current bills. The farmer becomes totally frustrated and drinks pesticide. This is happening to everyone here," said Mohammad Azimuddin, a farmer.
"Banks are supposed to lend 18 per cent of their total banking credit for this priority sector of agriculture. But it is hardly 11 to 12 per cent. Because of this, the farmer is compelled to take loans from private moneylenders at exorbitant rates of interest," observed V S Rao, Agriculture Minister, Andhra Pradesh.
In the last six years, virtually every year has witnessed a rural agricultural crisis in Andhra Pradesh with over 500 farmers killing themselves.
For regular updates on the latest news, register for our daily newsletter by
Signing up here!
Top Stories
Crisis in Jharkhand, Marandi asked to prove majority
Excavation in Ayodhya resumes
US offers Mideast roadmap to win support on Iraq
National News
Congress unit chief in Mumbai quits
Rice subsidy scheme in AP loses sheen
C D Sahay appointed new RAW chief
Police bust gang of bus robbers in Delhi
Fund crunch hits family planning drive
Militants set fire to village in Rajouri
Hurriyat to hold meet with Sonia Gandhi
Nepal's king, queen to visit India
Nagaland polls to completed by Mar 31: EC
SIM card, tape recorder found in Bleach's cell
World News
Hu Jintao named new president of China
Pak welcomes US waiver of sanctions
Mysterious pneumonia spreads in Asia
Health, poverty in focus for Finland polls
Cold War spy released from custody
Bus accident in Ecuador, 20 killed
US reciprocates Cuban travel restrictions
Lankan panel heads for peace talks in Japan
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