Pradeep Sharma

AGRA: With farm dues mounting every passing day and no respite in sight, a debt-ridden potato farmer from Agra has sent the first installment of Rs 2,000 received under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to chief minister Yogi Adityanath along with a letter demanding euthanasia .

Thirty-nine-year-old Pradeep Sharma, a potato farmer from the district’s Baroli Ahir block said that he was fed up of waiting for four years for compensation for crop loss. He said, “I have sent a money order of Rs 2,000 to CM Yogi Adityanath. I am under Rs 35 lakh debt and if the CM can’t help me, he can at least grant me permission to kill myself.”

Talking to TOI, the farmer said that he lives with his family in a small rented accommodation and has been struggling every day. “Earlier, too, I had written to the district administration and the state government seeking help, but never received a reply. In December last year, I had gone to Delhi to meet Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh but returned empty handed from there too.”

Sharma had also raised the issue of crop loss with district administration officials on Kisan Diwas and Tehsil Diwas (grievance redressal meetings). Even after repeated requests and after submitting several documents, he is yet to receive any compensation.

He added, “When my uncle died of heart attack in 2015 due to farm debts, I brought the matter to the notice of administration officials but nobody came forward to help. Due to bad weather, I suffered crop loss in 2016 and my father died of cancer in 2017. Already under debt, I couldn’t give him proper medication. Now, I have sent the money order to the CM and perhaps he will understand me.”

Shyam Singh Chahar, leader of a farmer’s group, said, “Sharma is in deep distress since past several months. He has suffered major losses and needs to be supported by the government. There are other farmers too in the district who have not been compensated for crop loss.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Mohammad Aamir, general secretary of Potato Producers’ Association, said, “Around 40% of the total potato production in the country takes place in UP. Agra district alone grows potato in over 72,000 hectares and farmers here are struggling to somehow retain their investments. They are being burdened with bank loans and the state and central governments must start immediate relief schemes for them. Ex-gratia payment of Rs 400 per quintal potato should be approved by the government.”

