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11 cotton farmers commit suicide in AP

Driven to desperation, following the failure of cotton crop, as many as 11 farmers have committed suicide in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh this month.

The farmers had taken the extreme step as they were caught in a debt trap. So desperate are the farmers that even Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's assurance -- that the loans would be rescheduled and that fresh loans would be given -- did not improve the situation.

Two more suicides were reported from Warangal and Karimnagar districts after Naidu visited two of the victims's families in Parkal mandal in the former district. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 100,000 to the families of the deceased.

Sources said the measures announced by the chief minister benefit only a small section of the farmers who had taken loans from public sector banks. The rest will continue to brave the hardships as they had taken loans from private agencies at exorbitant interest rates -- nearly 30 to 40 per cent.

Even the usury, over the years, did not prevent the farmers from making a neat profit as cotton farming is known for its high returns. But this year, the unseasonal rain in October and November played the villain, damaging the crop.

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