The government has favoured setting up of a joint parliamentary panel to go into the issue of farmers' suicide in the wake of contradictory figures emerging from states and National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said this in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, winding up a debate on agrarian crisis and suicides by farmers. The entire Opposition, including the BJP, BSP, AIADMK, TDP and the Left, supported the proposal.

Welcoming the proposal, Sitaram Yechuri (CPI-M) said that the whole House agrees that a Committee is needed to investigate and find out the truth.

Mr. Pawar gave details about various measures taken by the Centre and the States for the welfare of the farming community. He said the Centre has decided to import fertilizers as the country is facing its shortage at present.

The Agriculture minister said the government has identified Eastern India as the focal point for the second Green Revolution to ensure better productivity of paddy.

He asked the states to provide minimum support price to farmers to stop distress sales. Referring to climate change, Mr Pawar said over 5 thousand scientists are working in this regard for the benefit of the farming community.

Earlier, intervening in the reply, the Finance Minister ruled out universal extension of 4 per cent rate of interest on crop loan to the farmers in a view to balance the borrowing and lending mechanism of the banking sector.

He said this facility has been extended to those farmers who repay their loan in time. Dissatisfied over the reply by the Agriculture Minister, the entire opposition staged a walk out from the House.