Concerning Issues :--
Maharashtra has recorded 20,504 farmer suicides since 2001.
With 610 deaths in just two months ( Nov & Dec 2015), State records highest ever suicides by farmers.
In 2014, the National Crime Record bureau of India reported 5,650 farmer suicides.
The highest number of farmer suicides were recorded in 2004 when 18,241 farmers committed suicide.
Reasons of Suicides :--
Activists and scholars have offered a number of conflicting reasons for farmer suicides, such as monsoon failure,
high debt burdens,
genetically modified crops,
government policies,
public mental health,
personal issues and
family problems.
There are also accusation of states fudging the data on farmer suicides.
Drought-As much as 79.5% of India’s farmland relies on flooding during monsoon season, so inadequate rainfall can cause droughts, making crop failure more common.
In regions that have experienced droughts, crop yields have declined, and food for cattle has become scarcer.
Agricultural regions that have been affected by droughts have subsequently seen their suicide rates increase.
New Economic Policies- favoured privatisation, liberalisation and globalisation is the root cause of farmer suicides
GM Crops- The Bt cotton seeds cost nearly twice as much as ordinary ones. The higher costs forced many farmers into taking ever larger loans, often from private moneylenders charging exorbitant interest rates (60% a year).
State Government’s failure to tackle problems in the farm sector like indebtedness, irregular power supply, failure of bore-wells and erratic monsoon are major reasons for farmers’ suicides in the State.
Responses to Farmer’s Sucides till Now
2006 Relief Package
Agriculture Debt waiver and debt relief scheme, 2008
Regional Initiatives-
Maharashtra Bill to Regulate farmer loan terms, 2008
Maharashtra relief Package, 2010
Kerala Farmers’Debt Relief Commission (Amendment ) Bill, 2012
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