Stop farmer suicide in State: Farmer body

--State-level Farmer’s Convention on Feb 23

BHUBANESWAR: Criticising the State Government’s inactiveness to address agriculture related issues, the Odisha Krushak Sangha (OKS) on Friday demanded the Government to stop farmer suicide in the State.

Addressing the Press, OKS president Ajay Kumar Jena said the Government should protect interest of the farmers as around 80 per cent people in the State directly or indirectly depend on agriculture. Shortage of quality seeds, hike in fertiliser price, unavailability of loan, crop loss, lack of irrigation facility and proper marketing system lead to farmer suicide which need to be stopped, he added.

Jena said the MLAs don’t want to ask question in the Assembly fearing their party high command. They love to ask questions related to industry and projects backed by corporate houses. But now the farmer organisations across the State should come forward to protect interest of the people, he stated.

Jena revealed that they will organise a State-level farmer’s convention on February 23 in the city where leaders of various farmer’s body will attend. The leaders in the convention will discuss about ten-point charter of demands to check farmer suicide in the State.