India is an agrarian country with around 70% of its people depending directly or indirectly upon
agriculture.
In 2014, the National Crime Records Bureau of India reported 5,650 farmer suicides. The highest number of farmer suicides were recorded in
2004 when 18,241 farmers committed suicide. Farmer suicides account for 11.2% of all suicides in India. Activists and scholars have offered a number of conflicting reasons for farmer suicides, such as monsoon failure, high debt burdens, government policies, public mental health, personal issues, and family problems.
According to a report by the National Crime Records Bureau, the states with the highest incidence of farmer suicide in 2015 were Maharashtra (3,030), Telangana (1,358), Karnataka (1,197), Madhya Pradesh (581), Andhra Pradesh (516), and Chhattisgarh (854).
More than 23,000 farmers have committed suicide in the state of Maharashtra between 2009 and 2016.
There is no consensus on what the main causes might be but studies show suicide victims are motivated by more than one cause, on average three or more causes for committing suicide.
A study conducted in 2014, found that there are three specific characteristics associated with high-risk farmers: "those that grow cash crops
such as coffee and cotton; those with 'marginal' farms of less than one hectare; and those with debts of 300 Rupees or more." The study also
found that the Indian states in which these three characteristics are most common had the highest suicide rates and also accounted for "almost
75% of the variability in state-level suicides.
The National Crime Records Bureau of India reported in its 2012 annual report, that 135,445 people committed suicide in India, of which 13,755
were farmers (11.2%).[72] Of these, 5 out of 29 states accounted for 10,486 farmers suicides (76%) – Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.[1]
In 2011, a total of 135,585 people committed suicide, of which 14,207 were farmers.[73] In 2010, 15,963 farmers in India committed suicide, while
total suicides were 134,599.[74] From 1995 to 2013, a total of 296,438 Indian farmers committed suicide.
Responses to farmers' suicides
The government appointed a number of inquiries to look into the causes of farmers suicide and farm-related distress in general. Krishak Ayog
(National Farmer Commission) visited all suicide-prone farming regions of India, then in 2006 published three reports with its recommendations.
Subsequently, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Vidarbha in 2006 and promised a package of ₹110 billion (about $2.4 billion). The
families of farmers who had committed suicide were also offered an ex gratia grant of ₹100,000 (US$1,400) by the government, though this amount
was changed several times.
2006 relief package
Agricultural debt waiver and debt relief scheme, 2008
Maharashtra Bill to regulate farmer loan terms, 2008
Maharashtra relief package, 2010
The effectiveness of government response
The government's response and relief packages have generally been ineffective, misdirected and flawed. It has focused
on credit and loan, rather than income, productivity, and farmer prosperity. Assistance in paying off outstanding principal and interest helps the
money lenders but has failed to create reliable and good sources of income for the farmer going forward. The usurious moneylenders continue to
offer loans at interest rates between 24 and 50 percent, while an income-generating potential of the land the farmer works on has remained low and
subject to weather conditions. Sud states that the government has failed to understand that debt relief just postpones the problem and a
more lasting answer to farmer distress can only come from reliable income sources, higher crop yields per hectare, irrigation and other infrastructure security.
International comparison
Farmers suicide is a global phenomenon. Outside India, studies in Sri Lanka, USA, Canada, England, and Australia have identified farming as a
high-stress profession that is associated with a higher suicide rate than the general population. This is particularly true among small scale farmers and after periods of economic distress.[39] Fraser et al., similarly, after a review of 52 scholarly publications, conclude that farming
populations in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States have the highest rates of suicide of any industry and there
is growing evidence that those involved in farming are at higher risk of developing mental health problems. Their review claims a wide range of
reasons behind farmers suicide globally including mental health issues, physical environment, family problems, economic stress, and uncertainties. the significantly higher suicide rate among farmers than the general population has been reported in developed countries such as the UK and the US.
So at a conclusion that Farmer works hard to provide food for us so in return, we should also take certain steps to preserve
their life. I want to add the point that message ....
thankyou
agriculture.
In 2014, the National Crime Records Bureau of India reported 5,650 farmer suicides. The highest number of farmer suicides were recorded in
2004 when 18,241 farmers committed suicide. Farmer suicides account for 11.2% of all suicides in India. Activists and scholars have offered a number of conflicting reasons for farmer suicides, such as monsoon failure, high debt burdens, government policies, public mental health, personal issues, and family problems.
According to a report by the National Crime Records Bureau, the states with the highest incidence of farmer suicide in 2015 were Maharashtra (3,030), Telangana (1,358), Karnataka (1,197), Madhya Pradesh (581), Andhra Pradesh (516), and Chhattisgarh (854).
More than 23,000 farmers have committed suicide in the state of Maharashtra between 2009 and 2016.
There is no consensus on what the main causes might be but studies show suicide victims are motivated by more than one cause, on average three or more causes for committing suicide.
A study conducted in 2014, found that there are three specific characteristics associated with high-risk farmers: "those that grow cash crops
such as coffee and cotton; those with 'marginal' farms of less than one hectare; and those with debts of 300 Rupees or more." The study also
found that the Indian states in which these three characteristics are most common had the highest suicide rates and also accounted for "almost
75% of the variability in state-level suicides.
The National Crime Records Bureau of India reported in its 2012 annual report, that 135,445 people committed suicide in India, of which 13,755
were farmers (11.2%).[72] Of these, 5 out of 29 states accounted for 10,486 farmers suicides (76%) – Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.[1]
In 2011, a total of 135,585 people committed suicide, of which 14,207 were farmers.[73] In 2010, 15,963 farmers in India committed suicide, while
total suicides were 134,599.[74] From 1995 to 2013, a total of 296,438 Indian farmers committed suicide.
Responses to farmers' suicides
The government appointed a number of inquiries to look into the causes of farmers suicide and farm-related distress in general. Krishak Ayog
(National Farmer Commission) visited all suicide-prone farming regions of India, then in 2006 published three reports with its recommendations.
Subsequently, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Vidarbha in 2006 and promised a package of ₹110 billion (about $2.4 billion). The
families of farmers who had committed suicide were also offered an ex gratia grant of ₹100,000 (US$1,400) by the government, though this amount
was changed several times.
2006 relief package
Agricultural debt waiver and debt relief scheme, 2008
Maharashtra Bill to regulate farmer loan terms, 2008
Maharashtra relief package, 2010
The effectiveness of government response
The government's response and relief packages have generally been ineffective, misdirected and flawed. It has focused
on credit and loan, rather than income, productivity, and farmer prosperity. Assistance in paying off outstanding principal and interest helps the
money lenders but has failed to create reliable and good sources of income for the farmer going forward. The usurious moneylenders continue to
offer loans at interest rates between 24 and 50 percent, while an income-generating potential of the land the farmer works on has remained low and
subject to weather conditions. Sud states that the government has failed to understand that debt relief just postpones the problem and a
more lasting answer to farmer distress can only come from reliable income sources, higher crop yields per hectare, irrigation and other infrastructure security.
International comparison
Farmers suicide is a global phenomenon. Outside India, studies in Sri Lanka, USA, Canada, England, and Australia have identified farming as a
high-stress profession that is associated with a higher suicide rate than the general population. This is particularly true among small scale farmers and after periods of economic distress.[39] Fraser et al., similarly, after a review of 52 scholarly publications, conclude that farming
populations in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States have the highest rates of suicide of any industry and there
is growing evidence that those involved in farming are at higher risk of developing mental health problems. Their review claims a wide range of
reasons behind farmers suicide globally including mental health issues, physical environment, family problems, economic stress, and uncertainties. the significantly higher suicide rate among farmers than the general population has been reported in developed countries such as the UK and the US.
So at a conclusion that Farmer works hard to provide food for us so in return, we should also take certain steps to preserve
their life. I want to add the point that message ....
thankyou
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