'Ensure proper pricing for agri produce'

Flawed policies of the Union and state governments had led to 150,000 farmers committing suicide in the country, said Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) leader ND Patil speaking at a farmers' rally at Kolhapur recently.

Patil demanded that the government should not just waive the loans of farmers but also ensure adequate price for agriculture produce to avoid further debt trap.

"The number of suicides has been the highest in Maharashtra. This is because banks are not providing finance to 70 per cent of the farmers and as a result these farmers have to approach moneylenders," he pointed out.

Member of the state planning commission RP Kulherkar said the government should establish special agricultural zones (SAZ) on the lines of special economic zones and provide all facilities to farmers.