Low output, rising debt: Supreme Court panel flags Punjab, Haryana farm crisis

Published On : 2024-11-23T08:18:32+0530 [ IST ] | Author : Mayur_Tembhare
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Stagnancy of agricultural production for three decades coupled with spiralling debts in Punjab and Haryana has created a distressing situation for farmers the panel said in its interim report.

The committee tasked with finding a solution to the ongoing farmers' agitation on the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border said the agricultural crisis in the two states has been visible for the last three decades.

Declining net farm productivity, rising production costs, inadequate marketing system and shrinking farm employment have contributed to the deceleration in farm income growth. Small and marginal farmers along with farm workers are the most affected and vulnerable segments of this economic squeeze

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan praised the committee for framing issues for examination and its attempt to involve the agitating groups of farmers in the discussion.

When Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh sarcastically said the issues need "to be taken to the right quarters", solicitor general Tushar Mehta said the committee is an arm of the SC and is acting to resolve the issues.

The report said Punjab has not escaped the "suicide epidemic" evident among farmers in other states. As per the report Punjab witnessed 16,606 suicides by farmers mostly small and marginal and landless farm workers between 2000 and 2015.

The panel said the growing debt crisis needed special attention to provide relief to debt-stricken farmers and farm workers.

Another issue flagged for in depth study is the "review of budgeting norms, credit policies, agricultural research priorities, allied sectors that include horticulture, livestock, fisheries and forestry and also look into institutional architecture that will eventually bring


Source : Reporters From Sunrise Chronicles


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Summary :

Stagnancy of agricultural production for three decades coupled with spiralling debts in Punjab and Haryana has created a distressing situation for farmers the panel said in its interim report.

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