In 1994, a pound of cotton fetched $1.10 in the global market. By 1997 the price dropped by 40 cents. Even when they are getting much less returns, American farmers are not committing suicide. This is because in the US, cotton farmers get subsidy worth Rs.14,000 crore (Rs 140 billion).
The WTO has failed to have that subsidy reduced.
India has imported 11 million bales of cotton from 1997 to 2004. The import tariff on cotton is just 10 per cent.
This helps cotton farmers of the world. Not Indian cotton farmers.
Mr prime minister, why did South Korean farmer Lee Kyoung Hae stab himself to death during the WTO meeting in Cancun (in 2003)? Why did he say WTO is the killer?
I know that you know all these things too well, that to tell you about it is like showing a lamp to the sun.
Honourable prime minister, I want to draw your attention to the fact that in India although agriculture is a state subject, the Central government takes the all-important decisions.
1) The Centre fixes the support price of farm produce
2) The Centre decides the import-export policy
3) The Centre formulates the policy to give agricultural loans.
In this situation, state governments always pass the buck to the Centre, while New Delhi blames the states.
In the year 2005-2006 the Maharashtra government has announced a relief package for farmers in debt. But still, suicides are not reducing. This package is deceptive.
The Maharashtra government has withdrawn the bonus of Rs 500 per quintal. By this one act it is getting rid of a Rs 11 billion responsibility.
It was a kind of guarantee for us against various fluctuations. It now stands withdrawn. The relief measures also said that we could refinance our debt. But the government is not honest in implementing it. If farmers are not getting crop loans on time then how do you expect us to sow the new crop?
Image: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh with the suicide-affected families of farmers in Waifed Village..
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