NDA ally urges govt to take long-term step to curb farmer

Terming the suicide of a farmer in Maharashtra as a "failure" of the political class, the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, an NDA partner from the state, today urged the government to undertake long-term steps to curb such incidents.
The SSS said farmer suicides is a "cumulative effect of the climate change blighting farm produces and input cost being greater than the market value of crops".
Describing the incident of suicide by a 27-year-old Akola-based farmer Mangesh Umale as a "very unfortunate" one, it said, "Farmer suicides is a failure of the political class and those working for their welfare. This shows we have failed to encourage among them a hope for living," SSS president Raju Shetty said.

Shetty said the government needs to lower input costs, see how production can be increased and farmers made financially stable.
"Political blame game will not help reducing the number of farmer suicides," he said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis earlier in the day said he plans to visit the kin of Umale.
Umale had left behind a suicide note stating that he was an admirer of Fadnavis and wished the BJP leader would visit his house in Akola.