Strife due to agrarian crisis worsens

NEW DELHI: Incidents of unrest caused by the agrarian crisis doubled to 74 till June this year from 37 in the corresponding period of 2014, a rise attributed to factors such as demands for higher minimum support prices, opposition to the land acquisition law and an inadequate supply of seeds and fertilizers.

One farmer in Gujarat lost his life and nine others were injured across the country in the 74 incidents of violence reported by the intelligence agencies until June this year. Maharashtra accounted for the highest inci dents at 17, followed by 12 in Haryana, 8 in Bihar, 7 in West Bengal, 6 in Punjab and 5 each in Gujarat, UP and MP.

In 2014, the first six months saw a total of 37 incidents of violence because of farm distress in which one farmer died in Punjab, while 82 others were injured in different places. As many as 26 policemen were also injured in these violence-related inci dents due to agrarian crisis.

Incidents of unrest on account of farm crisis, according to an intelligence report, may have shown a rise due to opposition to the land acquisition ordinance that lapsed recently for want of parliamentary approval, besides other factors like low minimum support price for crops and inadequate supply of fertilizers and seeds.