Suicide no solution for agriculture problems: Eknath Khadse

Agriculture minister Eknath Khadse on Saturday said that suicides are not the solution for agricultural problems. Farmers should be counselled and guided to produce high yielding crops, he said.

“As the world is coming closer, the agriculture revolution has received impetus. But to make the most of this opportunity, the young generation should come forward,” Mr Khadse said while speaking at a local event on agriculture in Nashik on Saturday. MLAs Devyani Farande, Seema Hire, Balasaheb Aher, BJP city president Laxman Savji and other were present.

Mr Khadse further said that efforts were being made to use advanced technologies in agriculture in order to reduce the cost. “Through research we will be able to produce high yield, which will also be drought and disease resistant crops and can be taken in low rainfall. This research should be conducted by the new generation. This year 15,000 students applied for courses in agriculture and animal husbandry out of which 4,500 students got admissions. Students with 92 per cent marks were given admissions to the BSc in Agriculture course. Henceforth only Agriculture degree or diploma holders will get licences for sale of agriculture projects,” he announced.

The minister said he was positive, as on the one hand students were attracted towards agriculture research while on the other farmers too were willing to incorporate newer agriculture technologies.

Mr Khadse also spoke about the various schemes available for farmers. He said state would soon be developing orchards on 100,000 hectares and will bear the entire cost. The government will be paying premiums for farmers’ accident policy under the Prime Minister Accident Insurance Scheme. The beneficiary would get up to `200,000 after an accident. This scheme would benefit 1.37 crore farmers. He also said that farmers could avail of loans up to `50 lakh without collateral through Mudra Bank.

Mr Khadse announced that farmland was being measured through satellite and arrangements were being made to bring all crops under insurance cover. Newer policies are necessary to ensure that farmers develop economically, he said.