In case the farmer finds that it may not be possible for him to discharge his debt obligation because of loss of crop and may be deprived of his land, he may as well lose his psychological balance and might be driven to the tragic step of ending his own life, leaving his family members in a pitiable plight, deprived of the bread-winner as well as their land. The government, has of course, announced with great fanfare a crop insurance scheme and a credit card system for farmers. It is obvious that the benefits of such schemes might not have percolated to thesedesperate farmers.

One might recall that in the earlier season as many as 447 cotton growers were forced to end their lives in a similar circumstances. Of them, as many as 229 were driven to suicides in Andhra Pradesh, which claims to be one of the progressive states in the country. There were as many as 82 such suicides in Maharashtra, 52 in Punjab and 44 in Karnataka according to statistics officially given in Parliament. However, according to unofficial sources the number of such tragedies was much bigger.

It was hoped that the government might draw useful lessons from such painful cases and might take steps to prevent recurrence of any such tragedies.

However, such hopes have been in vain, if one goes by repetition of two such incidents, when the new season is about to start.

Though the outgoing season started on a steady note, cotton prices began to fall subsequently, mainly in view of huge imports of cheaper cotton from abroad. Though the domestic supply of fibre was adequate, consumerscontended that its quality was poor, making imports necessary.

Though the government directed state agencies to suck up excess supply of tobacco and rubber from the market at prevailing prices and export the same to provide relief to the growers of those commodities, there was no such arrangement for the disposal of surplus cotton which was said to be of poor quality and, therefore, not wanted by consumers. On a rough estimate cotton growers might have been put to losses amounting to about Rs 2,000 crore or more this season owing to fall in prices, which touched the lowest levels by March-April last. Though subsequently there was slight improvement, the prices were mostly lower even at the end of the season, compared with those at the same time of the earlier year.

While cotton growers suffered from falling prices in the face of the rising cost living, the textile industry continued to suffer due to excessive tax burden and depressed demand for fabrics. Observers of the textile scenario are of the viewthat excise duty on 100 per cent cotton yarn and cotton fabrics should be waived. Such a measure will, according to them, will benefit both the industry and cotton growers.