2. Statistics on farmer suicides
• On average, one Indian farmer committed
suicide every 32 minutes.
• Since 2002, this has become one suicide
every 30 minutes.
• One farmer took his or her life every 53
minutes between 1997 and 2005 in just the
States of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and including
Chhattisgarh.
4. Over dependence on the monsoons
• Break down in the meteorological cycle of
rainfall.
• 93% of area under dry land farming. Which
means, totally dependent on the rainfall.
• Lack of proper irrigation 98% of farmers
having committed suicides had absolutely no
irrigation facilities.
5. Lack of financial support
• Out of 17.64 Lakh farmers only (25.3%)
farmers could avail institutional finance.
• Private money lenders charge high interest
rates between 48-60% p.a.
• Cooperative sector brought down their
interest rates to 7%, even then the farmers
are taking loans from the private individuals.
6. The Huffington Post notes
• 2009 was the worst figure for farm suicides.
• More than 17,368 India farmers killed
themselves.
• And an increase of 1,172 from the previous
year's figure.” Notably, there was also a huge
drought in 2009.
7. Conclusion
• Provide proper institutional financial support
to farmers.
• Provide a good crop insurance scheme in
cases of crop failure
• Provide genuine relief to the affected
farmers.
• Providing proper irrigation facility and
subsidies.
