Farmers Commission report in Oct, '06

LUCKNOW: The National Farmers Commission, constituted in 2004 to suggest ways and means to increase agriculture production and improve economic condition of farmers, would submit its draft national policy report to the government on October 4, 2006.

"The Commission held meetings with NGOs, officials and farmers in 15 states and would submit the report on October 4," said Atul Sinha, member secretary of commission on Satarday.

Fragmented land holdings and inadequate public and private investment in the sector is one of the major reasons behind poor economic condition of the farmers, Sinha said.

"Suicide cases are reported mainly from the areas where farmers concentrate on single cash crop, like Vidarbha in Maharashtra where the main crop is cotton," he said adding that mixed farming should be promoted to solve the problem.

State agriculture minister, Ashok Bajpai was also present on the occasion.