Debt waiver: Farmers in Punjab threaten to launch agitation

Farmers' organisations in Punjab today threatened to launch 'jail bharo' agitation next month to press for their demands, including remunerative crop prices and debt waiver for distressed growers.
Four farmers' organisations -- Bhartiya Kisan Union (Kadian), BKU (Sidhupur), Pagri Sambhal Jatta and Doaba Sangharsh Committee -- today held a meeting to discuss the plight of growers and devise a strategy to put pressure on the Centre and the state government for their demands.
"We will be launching a 'jail bharo andolan' after August 9 to press the government to address the issues of farming," BKU (Sidhupur) President Bogh Singh told reporters here.

Farmers are demanding crop price as suggested by the Swaminathan Commission report which suggested 50 per cent profit over and above the cost of production.
"We are also demanding the entire debt of all the farmers should be waived as they are unable to repay their debt because of inadequate rates of their crops. Besides, it should be ensured that the crop should be procured by the government so farmers are not exploited," he said.
Asserting that growing number of farmers' suicides was a major concern in Punjab, Singh said the state government should ensure immediate implementation of debt waiver.

"Debt waiver implementation is necessary to stop farmers' suicides," he demanded.
Farmers also demanded that fertilisers and agricultural equipment should be kept out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as it would lead to increase in cost of production for growers.
He said 12 per cent GST has been imposed on tractor and all other agricultural equipment.