Budget 2016: Measures on farming not enough to stop farmers' suicides, says farmer representatives

PUNE: Farmer representatives think the measures suggested in budget are not enough to stop farmers suicides as what the farmers want is guaranteed income.

"This budget is an initiation of good measures for farming sector. However, these measures are not sufficient for stopping farmer suicides. What the farmers want is guaranteed income for their produce," said Jayapal Reddy, secretary, Confederation of Kisan Organisations.

The finance minister announced to double the income of farmers in next five years. He also announced to increase the credit to farming from 8.5 lakh crore in the current fiscal to 9 lakh crore in the next fiscal, interest subvention and crop insurance. Before sowing the crop, we have to know the guaranteed remunerative price that we will get and not just the MSP," said Reddy.

While farmers from Maharashtra, the farmer suicide capital of India, wanted the government to implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, which suggested that the farmers get 50% profit over their production costs.