Hubballi, July 09, 2015, DHNS: “What can I or the government do if farmers take loans from unauthorised persons and commit suicide when unable to repay them?”

This statement came from none other than Shamanur Shivashankarappa (in pic), Horticulture and Agriculture Marketing Minister, in Hubballi on Wednesday. 

He was here to attend a conference on e-tendering to be held on Thursday.

Addressing media persons, Shivashankarappa said that after e-tendering was started in APMCs across select districts in the State, farmers were getting a good price for their produce and were happy.

When the issue of recent farmers’ suicides was brought up, the minister shot back at media persons asking how the government or himself was responsible if farmers took loans from unauthorised sources. He said the government cannot be held responsible for farmers’ suicides. 

“Who asked them to take loans from private lenders at higher rates of interest?” he questioned.

More than 30 farmers in the State have committed suicide since June. 

Financial crisis and crop failure are said to be the reasons behind most suicides. A majority of these farmers were sugar cane growers. When sugar factories refused to clear their dues and the government failed to release its share of the support price, the farmers took the extreme step. 

Sugar factories owned by Shivashankarappa’s family also owe huge arrears to farmers. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao was also present at the press conference.