Farmer Suicides in India

NCRB Findings (2023)

• Why in News: NCRB 2023 data shows persistent agrarian distress with over 10,000 farm-related suicides, concentrated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Total suicides in India: 1,71,418
• From farming sector: 10,786 (≈6.3% of total suicides)
  • Farmers/Cultivators: 4,690 (≈43%)
  • Agricultural labourers: 6,096 (≈57%)
• Gender breakdown:
  • Farmers: 4,553 male, 137 female
  • Agricultural workers: 5,433 male, 663 female
• State-wise burden:
  • Maharashtra: 38.5% (highest)
  • Karnataka: 22.5%
  • Andhra Pradesh: 8.6%
  • Madhya Pradesh: 7.2%
  • Tamil Nadu: 5.9%
  • States like Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Himachal, North-East (except Assam) → reported zero farm suicides.

Relevance

• GS Paper 1 (Society): Agrarian distress, social consequences of suicides.
• GS Paper 2 (Governance, Welfare): Policy gaps in MSP, credit, trade, welfare schemes.
• GS Paper 3 (Economy, Agriculture): Farm economics, cotton crisis, climate change impacts.

Historical Trends & Continuity

• Farmer suicides have been a persistent crisis since the mid-1990s (post-liberalisation period).
• NCRB data shows >10,000 farm suicides annually in 2021, 2022, 2023.
• Concentration in cotton and soybean belts → Vidarbha, Marathwada (Maharashtra), northern Karnataka, Telangana, parts of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• Pattern reflects a regional agrarian distress, not uniformly spread across India.

Underlying Causes of Farmer Suicides

• Economic Distress:
  • High input costs (seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, energy).
  • Low and unstable output prices (esp. cotton, soybean).
  • Indebtedness to private moneylenders and microfinance agencies.
• Policy-Linked Issues:
  • MSP coverage inadequate, procurement limited to rice/wheat → non-MSP crops vulnerable.
  • Waiver of cotton import duty (11%) seen as worsening distress by making Indian cotton less competitive.
  • Trade treaties (FTAs, tariff reductions) viewed as threats to domestic farmers.
• Environmental Stress:
  • Rainfall variability, drought-prone regions like Marathwada.
  • Climate change intensifies crop failure risk.
• Social Factors:
  • Debt traps, family obligations, lack of social safety nets.
  • Limited mental health outreach in rural areas.
• Labour Vulnerability:
  • Agricultural workers face irregular wages, seasonal unemployment, no land ownership, and weaker bargaining power.

Structural Dimensions

• Cotton Crisis:
  • Bt cotton adoption raised costs (seeds, pesticide dependence).
  • Global cotton price fluctuations hurt smallholders.
• Soybean Belts:
  • Price volatility in global edible oil markets.
  • Competition from cheaper imports.
• Dual Crisis:
  • Cultivators trapped by debt + labourers trapped in underemployment.
• State-specific variations:
  • Maharashtra = “epicentre” → Vidarbha/Marathwada termed “farmer graveyards”.
  • Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh face similar rainfed agriculture risks.

Political-Economic Criticism

• Farmer unions (AIKS, others) argue:
  • Union govt. “failed to grasp systemic agrarian crisis”.
  • Policies like import duty cuts on cotton benefit foreign producers (esp. U.S.) while harming Indian farmers.
  • Trade liberalisation (FTAs) → “tariff terrorism” → domestic farm sector undermined.
• NCRB data itself questioned by farmer leaders (argue undercounting, non-inclusion of landless workers, exclusion of attempted suicides).

Possible Solutions & Way Forward

• Policy & Economic Measures:
  • Expand MSP coverage to non-rice/wheat crops (esp. cotton, soybean, pulses).
  • Strengthen procurement in distress-hit regions.
  • Crop insurance (PMFBY) → needs better implementation and faster claim settlement.
  • Regulate input costs (Bt seeds, fertiliser subsidies).
• Debt Relief & Credit Reform:
  • Address dependency on private moneylenders.
  • Strengthen rural cooperative credit and Kisan Credit Card outreach.
• Structural Diversification:
  • Encourage crop diversification, allied activities (livestock, dairy, horticulture).
  • Promote value-addition and agro-processing to buffer market shocks.
• Social & Mental Health Support:
  • Tele-MANAS (14416) helpline is a start → but rural mental health infrastructure must expand.
  • Community-based counselling and awareness campaigns needed.
• Long-Term Measures:
  • Rural employment schemes (MGNREGA, PM-KUSUM) to reduce sole dependence on crop income.
  • Resilient agriculture via water management, climate-resilient seeds, watershed development.