Bhubaneswar: Issues pertaining to agriculture are not the only reasons behind farmer suicides, said Union Agriculture Secretary Shobhana Kumar Patnaik today.
Speaking on the sidelines of a discussion in Bhubaneswar, Patnaik said, “Across the country a trend is observed that farmers are taking their lives due to different reasons. But it has not been proved yet that agriculture is the sole reason behind their deaths.”
An expert organization has been appointed to undertake a study of farmer deaths so that changes to the policy can be made, he informed.
“Besides, farmers are taking up commercial farming these days, which is why they take agricultural loans at a higher rate. However, when they fail to repay the loans, they get disturbed mentally and take the extreme step,” the Union Agriculture Secretary explained.
He lauded the Odisha government’s work in agriculture sector and said the State's agricultural productivity is almost coming in line with the national average.
The Union Agriculture Secretary suggested farmers of the State to get involved in cultivating high-value horticulture crops.
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