Bengaluru: Agriculture minister, Krishna Byregowda on Tuesday confirmed that harassment cases had been booked against as many as 1,332 moneylenders, who allegedly harassed farmers leading to their suicide last year.
During question hour in the Legislative Council, Congress Chief Whip Ivan D’Souza raised the issue of farmer suicides. Replying to his question, Mr Byregowda said that 122 farmer suicide cases were reported in 2014-15, of which 95 were related to loans. The suicides touched 1,407 in 2015-16 of which 817 were related to unpaid loans.
Last year, between August and October, an average of 200 farmer suicide cases were reported every month but after November, the numbers reduced considerably. “Of the 1,332 money lenders, 585 were arrested for reportedly harassed farmers for loan repayment," he said.
In another reply to BJP MLC Ramachandre Gowda, the minister maintained that the Agriculture department was renting machines for ragi farming at a cost 30 per cent lesser than the market price. “We are planning to open rent centres in all hoblis in the coming year. This year we have started them in 490 hoblis. So far, more than a lakh farmers have utilised this service,” he added.
