Karnataka - Mysore   

Spate of farmers’ suicides reflection of agrarian crisis

MYSORE: Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government in the State is embroiled in a ‘power struggle’ within its own ranks, suicides among farmers continue unabated in the State. The reasons are largely owing to crop failure, debt, drought, flood and socio-economic insecurity. The recent drought and floods have only pushed farmers to the brink. As many as seven farmers have committed suicide in the last ten days.

Kariyappa (60) of Urulukatte village of Jagalur taluk in Davangere district; Hanumanthappa Mallappa Kadalli (60) of Hulugur village in Shiggaon taluk of Haveri district; Vishwanath (57) of Santekolalu village in Chikmagalur taluk; Udhav Madhav (45) of Kamblewadi village in Basavakalyan taluk of Bidar district; Sripadayya Channaveeraiah Koti (38) of Varavi village in Shirahatti taluk of Gadag district; Mallikarjuna (28) of Bisalahalli village of Bellary taluk; and Thimma Pujari of Guddekeri village in Thirthahalli taluk of Shimoga district, allegedly committed suicide under pressure to repay loans from banks for agricultural activities, and for failure of crops.

According to sources in the Department of Agriculture, 88 farmers committed suicide during the year till October 15. As many as 337 farmers committed suicide during 2008-09.

While Bidar and Hassan districts recorded the highest number of suicides with 13 cases each, Shimoga and Belgaum districts stood second by registering 11 cases each. Eight farmers committed suicide each in Tumkur and Davangere districts.

Various works have been taken up to contain suicide among farmers in Belgaum, Chitradurga, Hassan, Shimoga, Chikmagalur and Kodagu districts, which have been included in the Centre’s 72,000-crore-farm loan waiver and debt relief package.

According to the leader of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) K.S. Puttanniah, a skewed agricultural economy with high cost of agriculture production and non-remunerative prices are the causes for farm distress. Farmers find it difficult to get loans and most of them approach moneylenders who charges exorbitant rates of interest. “In some cases they pay 120 per cent interest a year. Ensuring hassle-free farm loans from commercial banks may contain the phenomenon,” he said.

Reluctance of the State Government to utilise funds provided by the Centre is also one of the reasons, he said.

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