NEED AGRI-FRIENDLY POLICIES TO STOP FARMER SUICIDES

THE number of suicides by farmers in India continues to be high. Maharashtra, which traditionally held the top slot among all states, reported 2,366 suicides by farmers during the first 10 months of 2023. That amounts to 8 suicides a day in Maharashtra alone. Other large states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh, too, are not far behind.

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As per the National Crime Records Bureau's latest report, in 2022, as many as 11,290 farmers were reported to have died by suicide, with the five large states accounting for a lion's share.

In the demographic chart, farmers take the third spot while the unemployed youth and students take the top two positions. Why do farmers take their lives? The mounting debt and crop failures are the prime reasons. Being unable to repay loans, farmers drag themselves into penury, which in turn lead them to starvation, land loss, and mental distress.