FARMER’S SUCIDES IN INDIA
INTRODUCTION :
Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for a significant percentage of
the Indian population. Despite its importance, the Indian agricultural sector
has been plagued by several challenges, including natural disasters, market
volatility, and lack of infrastructure. One of the most devastating issues that
have impacted the farming community in India is the phenomenon of farmer
suicides.
The crisis of farmer suicides in India first gained media attention in the 1990s
and early 2000s. The state of Maharashtra was the epicentre of the crisis,
where a significant number of farmers were taking their lives due to debt-
related issues. The problem has since spread to other parts of the country, and
farmer suicides have become a persistent and alarming issue in the Indian
agricultural sector.
In recent years, India has witnessed a significant increase in the number of
farmer suicides. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over
300,000 farmers have taken their own lives since 1995, with an average of 10
farmer suicides per day. The issue of farmer suicides in India is not new, and
several studies have highlighted the various factors that contribute to this
crisis. According to a study by the Centre for Study of Developing Societies
(CSDS), the main causes of farmer suicides are indebtedness, crop failure, and
lack of access to institutional support. Another study by the National Sample
Survey Organization (NSSO) found that farmers who own less than two
hectares of land and those who depend on rain-fed agriculture are more
vulnerable to suicide.
The paper "Farmers' suicides in India: Magnitudes, Trends, and Spatial
Patterns" by K. Nagaraj and Srijit Mishra provides a comprehensive overview
of the problem of farmer suicides in India. The paper uses data from the
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) to analyze the magnitude, trends, and
spatial patterns of farmer suicides in India.
The paper finds that farmer suicides have been increasing in India since the
1990s, with a sharp increase in the 2000s. The authors note that the problem is
more severe in some regions of the country, particularly in the states of
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
The authors then discuss the factors that contribute to farmer suicides,
including the agrarian crisis, debt, climate change, and low crop yields. They
highlight how these factors have contributed to the distress faced by farmers
and their families, leading to high rates of suicides.
Overall, the paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the problem of farmer
suicides in India and the factors contributing to it. The authors call for a more
comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying causes of the problem,
rather than just providing short-term relief to distressed farmers.
Farmer Suicides in India: A Historical Perspective
The phenomenon of farmer suicides in India started to gain media attention in
the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was first observed in the state of
Maharashtra, where a large number of farmers were taking their lives due to
debt-related issues. Soon, reports of farmer suicides started to emerge from
other parts of the country as well.
In 2004, the Government of India constituted a Task Force to study the causes
of farmer suicides in the country. The Task Force found that indebtedness was
the primary reason for farmer suicides. It observed that the increasing cost of
cultivation, the declining productivity of land, and the shrinking margins due to
the falling prices of agricultural commodities had led to a rise in the debt
burden on farmers.
The State of Maharashtra: The Epicenter of Farmer Suicides
in India
The state of Maharashtra has been at the forefront of the farmer suicide crisis
in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Maharashtra
recorded the highest number of farmer suicides in the country in 2019,
accounting for 38% of all farmer suicides in India. The other states with high
farmer suicide rates include Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and
Madhya Pradesh.
One of the reasons why Maharashtra has been hit the hardest by farmer
suicides is the high number of farmers engaged in cash crop cultivation.
Cultivation of cash crops such as cotton and sugarcane is expensive and
requires significant investments in inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and
pesticides. However, the prices of these crops are often volatile and subject to
market fluctuations, which can result in losses for farmers. Moreover, these
crops require large amounts of water, which is a scarce resource in many parts
of Maharashtra. As a result, farmers in Maharashtra are often indebted and
vulnerable to market shocks.
The Maharashtra government has implemented several measures aimed at
addressing the farmer suicide crisis in the state. In 2017, the government
launched the 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shetkari Sanman Yojana,' a loan
waiver scheme aimed at providing relief to farmers who were in debt. Under
the scheme, the government waived off loans of up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs for eligible
farmers. However, the scheme has been criticized for its poor targeting and for
leaving out several vulnerable groups of farmers.
The state government has also launched several other schemes aimed at
improving access to credit and inputs for farmers. The Maharashtra State
Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB) has been providing financial assistance
to farmers for setting up farm ponds and drip irrigation systems. The state
government has also launched the 'Krishi Sanjivani Yojana,' aimed at providing
free soil testing services to farmers and promoting soil health management
practices.
Causes of farmer suicides:
The primary cause of farmer suicides in India is the agrarian crisis, which is a
result of multiple factors. One of the primary factors is the lack of irrigation
facilities, leading to dependency on monsoon rains. Erratic weather patterns,
such as droughts and floods, can lead to crop failures and financial distress for
farmers.
Another major issue faced by farmers in India is the lack of access to credit.
Most small and marginal farmers rely on informal credit sources, such as
moneylenders, who charge exorbitant interest rates. This leads to a debt trap,
which farmers find hard to break out of. Crop insurance schemes provided by
the government are inadequate and do not cover all crops.
The rising cost of inputs, such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, has also put a
strain on farmers' finances. Middlemen in the supply chain take advantage of
the farmers' lack of bargaining power and fix prices to their advantage. The low
prices received by farmers for their produce make it hard for them to break
even.
The lack of a stable market for agricultural produce is also a major issue. The
government's procurement system only covers a limited number of crops,
leaving farmers of other crops at the mercy of market forces. The absence of
cold storage facilities and adequate transportation infrastructure also
contribute to the problem.
The social stigma attached to indebtedness and poverty is another factor that
leads to farmer suicides. Farmers who are unable to pay off their debts face
social ostracism and harassment from moneylenders.
Possible solutions:
To address the issue of farmer suicides, the government needs to take a
comprehensive approach. Some possible solutions are:
Increase access to credit: The government needs to increase the availability of
formal credit to farmers at reasonable rates of interest. This can be achieved
by strengthening rural banks and cooperative societies.
Strengthen crop insurance schemes: Crop insurance schemes need to be
strengthened to cover all crops and provide adequate compensation in case of
crop failure.
Regulate input costs: The government needs to regulate the prices of inputs,
such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, to make them affordable for farmers.
It can also promote organic farming practices that reduce the use of chemical
inputs.
Improve market access: The government needs to establish stable markets for
all agricultural produce and provide adequate transportation infrastructure
and cold storage facilities. It can also promote farmer-producer organizations
that enable farmers to market their produce collectively.
Address social stigma: The government needs to address the social stigma
attached to indebtedness and poverty. It can provide counseling services and
support groups to help farmers deal with stress and depression.
Policy Responses to the Farmer Suicide Crisis in India
The Government of India has taken several policy measures to address the
farmer suicide crisis in the country. One of the most significant policy
responses has been the introduction of debt relief schemes for farmers. The
government has launched several debt waiver and debt relief schemes in the
past, aimed at alleviating the debt burden on farmers. However, these
schemes have been criticized for being poorly targeted and not addressing the
root causes of the farmer suicide crisis.
Another policy response has been the introduction of crop insurance schemes.
The government has launched several crop insurance schemes aimed at
protecting farmers from crop losses due to natural calamities. However, the
uptake of these schemes has been low, and there have been complaints of
delayed payments and inadequate compensation.
The government has also launched several schemes aimed at improving access
to credit and inputs for farmers. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
(PMFBY) is one such scheme, aimed at providing insurance coverage and
financial support to farmers in the event of crop failure. Similarly, the Pradhan
Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) is aimed at improving access to irrigation
facilities and water management practices for farmers.
Apart from these schemes, the government has also announced several long-
term policy measures aimed at addressing the structural issues in the
agriculture sector. The recent passage of the Farmers' Produce Trade and
Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, and the Farmers
(Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm
Services Act, 2020, have been hailed as landmark reforms in the agriculture
sector. These Acts aim to liberalize agricultural markets, promote contract
farming, and provide a legal framework for farmers to enter into agreements
with agribusinesses and traders.
Conclusion
The farmer suicide crisis in India is a complex and multifaceted issue that
requires a concerted effort from the government, civil society, and the private
sector to address. The farmer suicide crisis is not just a rural issue but a
national one that requires urgent attention from all stakeholders. While policy
responses such as debt relief schemes, crop insurance, and access to credit and
inputs are essential, they alone cannot address the root causes of the crisis.
The high incidence of farmer suicides not only affects the livelihoods of millions
of people but also has significant implications for the Indian economy and
society. While the government has implemented several policy measures
aimed at addressing the issue, the effectiveness of these measures has been
limited. The government must take a holistic approach to the issue, focusing
on long-term measures aimed at improving the productivity and profitability of
agriculture, promoting sustainable farming practices, and providing
institutional support to farmers. Additionally, there is a need to address the
issue of market volatility and ensure that farmers receive fair prices for their
produce. Only then can we hope to address the farmer suicide crisis and
ensure a sustainable future for the agriculture sector in India.
REFERENECES
http://ras.org.in/farmers_suicides_in_india
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
314243026_Agrarian_Crisis_and_farmers_Suicides_in_Maharashtra_In
dia_Status_Report_2012
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmers%27_suicides_in_India
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5419010/
