Kottayam: The farmers in Idukki are resorting to suicides due to a host of adverse factors which have landed them in misery. Seven farmers have already taken the extreme step to end their woes. The farmers have been hit hard by the huge crop losses and damage to properties following the floods and the unsympathetic attitude of banks towards the repayment of the loans taken by them. The banks did not make any concessions to the farmers in the loan recovery. The moratorium declared by the state government was not implemented by the banks and financial institutions such as KSFE.
Among the seven suicides, the first was by Santhosh, 37, of Thopramkudy Mary Giri Thennikattu Kalayil on January 2. He had suffered huge crop loss and incurred heavy financial burden. Santhosh had received an eviction notice from the government-owned Kerala State Financial Enterprises( KSFE).
Mr Vijayakumar, member of Senapathy ward of Vathikudy panchayat, said that in most cases the bank officials were rude towards the defaulters.
The main agricultural crops of the region, including pepper vines, cocoa, nutmeg, rubber and coconut, were destroyed in the heavy rain last year.
In many places, acres of agricultural lands were washed away. The district is dependent on the agrarian economy. According to the 2011 census, 95.6 percent of the district's population depends on agriculture.
"Only a comprehensive package to uplift the farmers can normalise the situation. In my ward alone, landslides occurred at 14 places and the lands were rendered useless," Vijayakumar said.
Three farmers committed suicide in the Vathikudy panchayat. They are Sahadevan, Srikumar and Santhosh Pulikathazath. The others are N.M. Johny of Vazhathoppu, Adimaly Anaviratty Raju and Ekkarakarayil Kunnathu Surendran.
James Joseph, 52, of Parathodu Varikanikkal, who committed suicide the other day, had taken an educational loan from South Indian Bank, Adimaly. He received an eviction notice following repayment default. The lack of timely relief post- deluge has also accelerated the miseries of the farmers.
"The agricultural production is hit due to the change in the structure of the soil," Romeo Sebastian, district secretary of the primary agricultural cooperative society, told DC.
Idukki MP Joice George said that the state government has to provide immediate relief to the farmers to help them overcome the crisis.
About 5.91 lakh acres of agricultural land was lost in the deluge resulting in a loss of Rs 18, 545 crore. Over 1, 922 houses were damaged fully and 7, 200 houses partially.
Some 3.5 lakh farmers have presented applications at the Krishi Bhavans.
