Priests call for solution to farm crisis

Expressing grave concern over the crisis in the farm sector, Christian priests in the predominantly agricultural Thiruvambadi region in Kozhikode called for action from the government as well as the affected farmers to defuse it.

Participants at a meeting presided over by Bishop Mar Paul Chittilappally observed, "This is the most serious crisis ever faced by farmers.”

Due to the severe subsides in agricultural production, the participants called for quick and effective action to defuse the crisis, which they say was caused by the sharp decline in prices of farm produces and diseases that had destroyed crops.

While Bishop Mar Paul Chittilappally called for collective action transcending political barriers to save farmers from distress, Antony Kozhuvanal, national general secretary of Indian Farmers Movement (INFAM), made a presentation accentuating the root causes of the farm crisis.

Priests spoke of the hardships facing farmers in their region and were unanimous in demanding action by the government on a war footing, sources said.

“Anti–farmer factors in import policy should be eliminated; the entire State should be declared distress–affected,” said a participant in the meeting.

The meeting urged, the governmental action should be supplemented by collective efforts by farmers, irrespective of political affiliations, if the crisis were to be tackled effectively.

Participants later planned to organise three farmers’ conventions in Kozhikode, of which the first would be held on Nobember 10 at Pulloramprara.

To chalk out the future course of action to help farmers in distress, a committee with Mathew Muthirachinthiyil as chairman and Mathew Panachippuram as convener, has been formed.

The members of this panel will shortly visit the places in Thiruvambadi, where serious loss to crops has occurred.