Over 2.9 lakh Indian farmers have committed suicide since 1995 according to government police records, with the highest numbers in states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Punjab. Several factors are contributing to the crisis, including rising input costs, unstable crop prices without a safety net, lack of infrastructure and credit, and new economic policies negatively impacting agriculture. To remedy this, solutions proposed include increased compensation for families, revamping agricultural extension services, promoting organic farming, restricting imports, restoring subsidies, expanding crop insurance and loan programs, and implementing land reforms. Bold policy changes are needed to strengthen rural livelihoods and make agriculture economically sustainable.

1. Madhukar Sanap

3. Farmer’s
Suicides :
Trends &
Magnitude
INDIA
INTERNATIONAL

5. A total of 2,96,438 farmers have committed suicide in India since
1995 to Deceber 2013

7. At A Glance.......
• A total of 2,96,438 farmers have committed
suicide in India since 1995 to Deceber 2013
• The government has no data other that police
records.
• No proper documentation of these deaths has
been done.
• Every single state has reported cases of farmers
suicides.
• Thus, the agricultural practices adopted in every
state may be different, but problems exist
everywhere.

8. • Maharashtra, Andra Pradesh, Karnataka, Panjab
have been badly affected.
• Most prone to suicide were individuals between
the ages of 30-45
• The states of Andra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka,
Kerela, MP, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, UP, Tamil
Nadu, West Bengal, Panjab have all shown an
increase in suicide cases since 1995.
Farmers' suicides represent only the tip of the
iceberg.

9. The stark discrepancies in state records
• Andra Pradesh: Only “genuine farmer
suicides” have been recorded by the
authorities and been given compensation of
one lakh.
• Maharashtra appears to be in denial with
“eligible” and “non-eligible” categories for
farmers. Not even 10 percent of the victim’s
families have got compensation yet.

10. • Chattisgarh has one of the highest rates of suicides.
Suddenly, in 2011 no farmer deaths reported since
the authorities listed them under “self-employed”
and “other”.
• Kerela State Debt Relief Commission Act in 2006
spent 3318 crores on debt relief. This ought to be
taken as an example.
• In spite of a good crop, Madhya Pradesh too has a
high number of suicides with April-July 2012
witnessing the deaths of 205 farmers and 95 agri
labourers
• Punjab government decided to extend a
compensation sum of Rs. 2 lakh compensation to
every family. Implementation however, is an issue.

11. Few causes of crisis
• Rising cost of cultivation,
• Increase in the price of fertilizers, pesticides, tools, etc
(input cost)
• Unremunerative prices (no assurance of return),
• Issues related to Minimum Support Prices of
foodgrains
• Trade liberalization and import export policies,
• Unsustainable cropping patterns,
• Lack of support systems like storage, credit,
insurance, farmers collectives,
• The neglect of rainfed agriculture.
• Tenancy farming too has been a rather ignored area.
• Current Challenges (Policy changes i.e. MGNREAGA etc)

13. How solutions need to be found
• Giving debt relief
• Insurance coverage
• Food schemes and to release land under mortage
• Income security should be the government’s
responsibility
• Newer mechanisms are needed for price
compensation
• Need of comprehensive mission for sustainable
agriculture in rain-fed areas
• Special integrated relief and rehabilitation package
for farm widows and farmers in distress

14. The Legacy Today
60 percent of country is agrarian population and
the crisis is not an rate that can be ignored.
"Hope's Still Alive”

15. Suicides of Farmers in Maharashtra – Causes
• Liberal Import of Agricultural Products
– Side effects of Indias Economic and Agriculture Policies
• Cutback in Agricultural Subsidies
• Lack of Easy and Low-cost Loan to Agriculture
• Decline in Government Investment in the Agricultural Sector
• Restructuring of the Public Distribution System
– Former Governor General of RBI in his book 'India's politics: A view from
the Backbench' says - "Government spends Rs.3.65 to reach only Re 1 to
the beneficiary
• Attention to Special Economic Zones – but Why not Agriculture Zone??
• Implications on Environment and Climate Change
• Government measures miserably poor (Relief & Rehabilitation Packaes)
• Issues of BT Cotton
– HIGHER INPUT COST AND POOR RETURN FROM BT COTTON
• INCREASE OF PESTICIDE IN MAHARASHTRA
• STEP-MOTHERLY TREATMENT TO COTTON GROWERS

16. Recommendations
• An immediate (adequate) compensation need to be offered, on a priority
basis
• State should look into its extension work in the field of agriculture and come
up with a comprehensive action plan to revamp the set up, its training and its
information base.
• State should propagate the alternative low cost organic/natural farming
system through a strong network of voluntary bodies
• Quantitative restrictions should be imposed on import of agricultural
products. Since the import policy was the major reason for the crash in prices
of many agricultural products, there should be restrictions on the quantity
and customs duty of such products.
• Subsidy and concessions given to agriculture but removed in the post-reform
period should be restored.
• Creation of an insurance safety net
• Bank loans should be easily made available to the farmers

17. • There is a need for periodic revision of the procurement prices for
farm produce making those remunerative.
• The government should revise the policy on Special Economic Zones as
it goes against the interest of farmers and the agricultural sector. It
should not acquire fertile agricultural land for SEZs.
• Bold steps should be taken to implement land reforms which were not
implemented in most States.
• The rural economy, particularly agriculture, will be greatly benefit if
programmes meant for economically backward sections, including the
Integrated Child Development Schemes, mid-day meals for school
children and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme, are effectively implemented.
• The solution of the problem is not in a few “packages” but in drastic
changes in the present economic policies related to agriculture. For
this, the government should be ready to take bold steps.

18. “In a country where 60 per cent of people
depend on agriculture for their livelihood,
it is better to become an agricultural
force based on food security rather than
a nuclear force.”