Waive all farm loans, govt.
Activists of the Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha (KRRS) staged a protest in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner here on Monday urging the government to waive farm loans availed of by farmers from commercial and cooperative banks.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Ravikiran Punacha, president, Dakshina Kannada unit of the KRRS, said that the State government has now waived farm loans up to ₹ 50,000 taken from cooperative banks.
It indicated the crisis faced by farmers.
Agriculturists in other taluks too faced water scarcity, though the government formally did not declare them drought-hit.
Mr. Punacha said that the government should fix scientific rates for arecanut, coconut, cocoa, pepper and rubber.
He said that the government should purchase cocoa at ₹ 6,000 per quintal.
It should establish a centre for purchasing the produce at the same rate.
The grower should get ₹ 17,500 per quintal of rubber.
Mr. Punacha said that the government should purchase copra at ₹ 25,000 per quintal.