Farmers look forward to PM's visit

NAGPUR: The debt-ridden farmers of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, where crop losses had forced scores of agriculturists to commit suicide in the past few years, were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who they hope will offer financial incentives to bail them out of the crisis.

Dr Singh, accompanied by Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, would tour the region on Friday to get a first hand information on the plight of the farmers in the backward region of Vidarbha, where more than 1,600 farmers ended their lives in the last five years.

He is expected to make an announcment of a comprehensive package for farmers in the six most affected districts in Vidarbha — Yavatmal, Amravati, Akola, Buldana, Washim and Wardha. Mr Pawar and finance minister P Chidambaram, on the directive of Singh, were busy giving finishing touches to the package, according to sources.