Ramaswami: “On the one hand, the cost of production is increasing. And the price of agriculture produces is not increasing compared to the cost of production. The prices are fluctuating as well as falling. This increase in the cost of production is a result of government policies. The prices are falling also as a result of the government policies,” he said adding that this was forcing farmers to sell the land. Farmers are forced to sell cattle. The farmer is forced to take loans to continue in farming. And he is not able to repay the loans as farming has become non-viable. And loans mount. It is in this context the farmer suicides are on a rise. Struggles – both small and big – are taking place against these policies in various states across the country, - CPI(M) Polit Bureau member S Ramachandran Pillai pointed out.