Farmer Suicide: Steep rise in Maharashtra; highest in 4 years

In November 2019, the number of farmer suicides increased to 300 cases in Maharashtra. The steep increase in farmer suicides though has crossed 300 several times, this is the highest since 2015.

Highlights

The farmer suicides in the state have increased by 61% in 2019 as compared to 2018. This was primarily due to unseasonal rains that lashed the state in October and November. The rains destroyed almost 70% of Kharif crops. The draught prone belt of Marathwada and Vidarbha recorded the largest number of farmer suicides.

Between January and November in 2018 the number of farmer suicides in Maharashtra were 2,518. In 2019, the number was 2,532 for the same duration. The issue certainly in the region is highly troublesome!

Maharashtra is facing highest farmer suicides in spite of loan waivers. This is mainly because in 2018, the region faced rain deficit during Monsoon and in 2019 the fields were lashed by floods.

While, the farmers suicides in Maharashtra is being tracked, the overall farmer suicides in the country is facing issues.

The NCRB issue

The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) released its report on crime and suicides in the country in October 2019 for the year 2017. However, the NCRB held back data on farmers suicide and released it after a month. After holding back, the Bureau released the report on farmer suicides for the year 2016 claiming farmer suicides in the country has declined. The record for the year 2017 farmer suicides is yet to be released. Also, the record for crimes for the year 2018 has not yet been released.

Farmer Suicide report

The highest farm suicides were reported in Maharashtra, followed by Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the year 2017. The total number of farm sector suicides for the year 2016 was 11,379. Out of these, number of farmers were 6,270. In 2015, the farm sector suicides were 12,602 and number of farmers were 8,007.

Month: Current Affairs - January, 2020