Brief overview of farmers’ suicides in
six districts of Vidarbha
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The problem of farmers suicides
due to agricultural distress, indebtness and crop
failures has gained serious proportion since 2004.
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The most affected districts are Yeotmal,
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As per the figures available till 25th July,
2006 total No. of 1863 farmers have reportedly committed suicides in above
six districts.
Diagnostic analysis of farmers suicides
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Following institutions have studied the socio economic causes of farmers suicides and submitted their
reports with prescriptions to the GOM:
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Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai
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Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
n YASHADA, Pune
The common reasons found are:
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Indebtedness &
Related factors
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Lack of access to institutional farm credit. Out of 17.64 Lakhs
farmers in six districts, only 4.48 Lakhs (25.3%)
farmers could avail institutional finance in 2005-06
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High prevalence of informal credit by private money lenders and their exorbitant rate of interest (48% to 60% p.a.)
& mortgaging/grabbing of indebted
farmers Agri. lands by executing illegal sale
deeds/coercion.
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Higher rate of interest due to three tier cooperative credit system e.g. upto 12.5% to 14% till last year
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Apathy of
Nationalized bank to disburse sufficient crop credit as per RBI
guidelines. Large scale defaults in
rural sector & fear of NPA by Banks
Diagnostic analysis of farmers
suicides
Agrarian Distress: Crop Failures & Yield
Losses
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Break down of meteorological cycle of rainfall since
2001. Recurrent droughts, late and
deficient monsoon &
erratic distribution of
rainfall compelling farmers to go for double or triple sowings and excessive input costs incurred
thereon.
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Agriculture in Vidarbha primarily rainfed,
93% of area under dryland farming. Productivity per acre extremely low,
lower remunerative prices to form produce, hence net return per acre very poor. Risk and vulnerability of farmers to
natural calamities and price shock is very high.
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Lack of irrigation
facilities. 98% of farmers having committed suicides had absolutely no irrigation
facilities.
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Single Cropping
Pattern and traditional over dependence
of mono crop i.e. Cotton. Soyabean prices depressed since 2004
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Lack of allied
agricultural activities & supplementary income from sectors like dairy, fisheries, poultry, sericulture etc.
in the six districts
Diagnostic
analysis of farmers suicides
High Cost of Cotton Cultivation:
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Excessive
consumption of costly inputs in cotton cultivation
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Disproportionate hike
in the Input prices
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Price shock &
poor price realization to Vidarbha’s cotton farmers
due to depressed international pricing
of cotton, which remains much less than cost of production of cotton due to
heavy domestic subsidy by US Government.
Psycho-Sociological Factors:
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Precipitation of
farmers’ distress due to family discords, marriage problems of adult daughters, chronic diseases within the
family
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Alcoholism & prevalence of various addictions
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Depression due to loss of social and economic status
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Lack of societal and community fall back
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Unwillingness of
landed farmers for wage labour works e.g. EGS & NREGS
predominantly incidence of suicides of landed farmers are
quite high compared to Landless and Agricultural labourers.
Response
at Policy Level by the Government: Multi-pronged Approach
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The gravity of the situation received serious attention
of policy makers & Peoples’ representatives.
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After intense debates during winter session of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly at
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Accordingly, a special mission called Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavlamban
Mission was set up at
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Special package is a mix of short and long term measures
and implementation through District Collectors.
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Major awareness campaign, Gram Sabhas,
village level counseling meetings organized in all districts.
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Comprehensive survey
of 17.64 Lakhs farmers’ families to ascertain levels
of distress conducted in all six districts.
Salient
Features of Special Package
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Immediate Relief & Assistance to the Families of
Deceased Farmers
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Rescheduling of Crop Loans and interest subsidy to
indebted farmers
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Revitalization of credit system & crop loans through
Kissan Credit Cards.
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Ban on illegal money lending and regulation of Licensed Moneylenders
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Enhanced Subsidy on Crop Insurance
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Direct financial
assistance to 60,000 farmers for
plugging in gaps of farming
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Diversification of livelihood and promotion of ancillary activities
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Encouragement to Agro-based & Agro Processing Industries
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Encouragement to Joint farming of Cotton
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Relief Assistance to Cotton Farmers & Refund of 3%
Share capital
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Community marriages for
adult daughters of the farmers
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Intensified
Campaign for Organic & Low Input Farming
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Vidarbha Watershed
Development
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Helpline for Farmers