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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.

October 2025
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