The loan waiver year of 2008 saw 16,196 farm suicides in the country, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Compared to 2007, that’s a fall of just 436. As economist Professor K. Nagaraj who has worked in-depth on farm suicide data says, “the numbers leave little room for comfort and none at all for self-congratulation.” There were no major changes in the trend that set in from the late 1990s and worsened after 2002. The dismal truth is that very high numbers of farm suicides still occur within a fast decreasing farm population.
Between just the Census of 1991 and that of 2001, nearly 8 million cultivators quit farming. A year from now, the 2011 Census will tell us how many more quit in this decade. It is not likely to be less. It could even dwarf that 8 million figure as the exodus from farming probably intensified after 2001. The State-wise farm suicide ratios — number of farmers committing suicide per 100,000 farmers — are still pegged on the outdated 2001 figures. So the 2011 Census, with more authentic counts of how many farmers there really are, might provide an unhappy update on what is going on.
Focussing on farm suicides as a share of total suicides in India misleads. That way, it’s “aha! the percentage is coming down.” That’s silly. For one thing, the total number of suicides (all groups, not just farmers) is increasing — in a growing population. Farm suicides are rising within a declining farm population. Two, an all-India picture disguises the intensity. The devastation lies in the Big 5 States (Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh). These account for two-thirds of all farm suicides during 2003-08. Take just the Big 5 — their percentage of all farm suicides has gone up. Worse, even their percentage of total all-India suicides (all categories) has risen. Poor States like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are doing very badly for some years now.
In the period 1997-2002, farm suicides in the Big 5 States accounted for roughly one out of every 12 of all suicides in the country. In 2003-08, they accounted for nearly one out of every 10.
The NCRB now has farm suicide data for 12 years. Actually, farm data appear in its records from 1995 onwards, but some States failed to report for the first two years. Hence 1997, from when all States are reporting their farm suicide data, is a more reliable base year. The NCRB has also made access much easier by placing all past years of “Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India” reports on its website.
The 12-year period allows us to compare farm suicide numbers for 1997-2002, with how they turned out in the next 6-year period of 2003-2008. All 12 years were pretty bad, but the latter six were decidedly worse.
Reading a ‘trend’ into a single year’s dip or rise is misleading. Better to look at 3-year or 6-year periods within 1997-2008. For instance, Maharashtra saw a decline in farm suicide numbers in 2005, but the very next year proved to be its worst ever. Since 2006, the State has been the focus of many initiatives. Manmohan Singh’s visit to Vidharbha that year brought the “Prime Minister’s Relief Package” of Rs.3,750 crore for six crisis-ridden districts of the region. This came atop Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s Rs.1,075 crore “CM’s relief package.” Then followed the nearly Rs.9,000 crore that was Maharashtra’s share of the Rs.70,000-crore Central loan waiver for farmers. To which the State government added Rs.6,200 crore for those farmers not covered by the waiver. The State added Rs.500 crore for a one-time settlement (OTS) for poor farmers who had been excluded from the waiver altogether because they owned over five acres of land.
In all, the amounts committed to fighting the agrarian crisis in Maharashtra exceeded Rs. 20,000 crore across 2006, 2007 and 2008. (And that’s not counting huge handouts to the sugar barons.) Yet, that proved to be the worst three-year period ever for any State at any time since the recording of farm data began. In 2006-08, Maharashtra saw 12, 493 farm suicides. That is nearly 600 more than the previous worst of 2002-2005 and 85 per cent higher than the 6,745 suicides recorded in the three-year period of 1997-1999. The same government was in power, incidentally, in the worst six years. Besides, these higher numbers are emerging within a shrinking farm population. By 2001, 42 per cent of Maharashtra’s population was already urban. Its farmer base has certainly not grown.
So was the loan waiver useless? The idea of a waiver was not a bad thing. And it was right to intervene. More that the specific actions were misguided and bungled. Yet it could also be argued that but for the relief the waiver brought to some farmers at least, the suicide numbers of 2008 could have been a lot worse. The waiver was a welcome step for farmers, but its architecture was flawed. A point strongly made in this journal ( Oh! What a lovely waiver, March 10, 2008). It dealt only with bank credit and ignored moneylender debt. So only those farmers with access to institutional credit would benefit. Tenant farmers in Andhra Pradesh and poor farmers in Vidharbha and elsewhere get their loans mainly from moneylenders. So, in fact, farmers in Kerala, where everyone has a bank account, were more likely to gain. (Kerala was also the one State to address the issue of moneylender debt.)
The 2008 waiver also excluded those holding over five acres, making no distinction between irrigated and unirrigated land. This devastated many struggling farmers with eight or 10 acres of poor, dry land. On the other hand, West Bengal’s farmers, giant numbers of small holders below the 5-acre limit, stood to gain far more.
Every suicide has a multiplicity of causes. But when you have nearly 200,000 of them, it makes sense to seek broad common factors within that group. Within those reasons. As Dr. Nagaraj has repeatedly pointed out, the suicides appear concentrated in regions of high commercialisation of agriculture and very high peasant debt. Cash crop farmers seemed far more vulnerable to suicide than those growing food crops. Yet the basic underlying causes of the crisis remained untouched. The predatory commercialisation of the countryside; a massive decline in investment in agriculture; the withdrawal of bank credit at a time of soaring input prices; the crash in farm incomes combined with an explosion of cultivation costs; the shifting of millions from food crop to cash crop cultivation with all its risks; the corporate hijack of every major sector of agriculture including, and especially, seed; growing water stress and moves towards privatisation of that resource. The government was trying to beat the crisis — leaving in place all its causes — with a one-off waiver.
In late 2007, The Hindu carried (Nov. 12-15) the sorry result emerging from Dr. Nagaraj’s study of NCRB data: that nearly 1.5 lakh peasants had ended their lives in despair between 1997 and 2005. Just days later, Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar confirmed those figures in Parliament (Rajya Sabha Starred Question No. 238, Nov. 30, 2007) citing the same NCRB data. It’s tragic that 27 months later, the paper had to run a headline saying that the number had climbed to nearly 2 lakh. The crisis is very much with us. Mocking its victims, heckling its critics. And cosmetic changes won’t make it go away.
In 2006-08, Maharashtra saw 12, 493 farm suicides. That is 85 per cent higher than the 6,745 suicides it recorded during 1997-1999. And the worst three-year period for any State, any time.
Comments:
Instead of spending crores of money in the infrastructure development of cities, i think its better that the government spend atleast half of those money for farmers,for their comfort,for agriculture. Only then India can stand strong. More than comfort we need better food to survive.
It is very disheartening to know that the number of people with cultivation as their primary occupation is on the decline.The government must intervene to stop this, not just by loan waivers but by looking deeper into the issue. A better way would be to consult with the corporate bodies to contribute their part that can lead to the healthy growth of the economy.
Its extremely sad that the government is taking only superficial measures to save our farmers. Industries are offered sops, and invited to set up plants whereas farmers are being forced to commit suicide. This is fundamentally because of the high importance being given to the industrial sector. With regret I have to say here that the governments in India respond only when tragedies occur.
How can the govt. give a waiver for the farmers' moneylender loans? How authentic the moneylender loan will be if the govt. agrees to waiver it? I think the UPA govt. has done the right thing by waiving the loans of thousands of farmers. And yes, I agree with you. Had the loan waiver not been initiated, there would have been more figures of farmer suicides.
Undoubtedly, the government must give a waiver for the farmers' moneylender loans. Also,incentives must be given at the grassroot level to cater to the basic needs of farmers so that they dont quit farming. This is imperative owing to the falling number of farmers in the nation. If there is nobody left to grow food,what will you and me eat thirty years from now? Apart from pressurising the government, what can people like us who work in IT,services and other professional fields do to tackle this alarming trend?
The above statistics, if it is to be believed, did not address the route cause of the problem. Obviously, they did not see any solution to their plight- be it the Government or otherwise. This is as good as throwing money from an airplane and hoping it would reach the intended. At least that's what it tantamounted to.
Another revealing fact is that the suicides were more with farmers who had gone in for cash crop, rather than food crops. Obviously, the lure of the lucre was too much for these farmers. Even though the risk was maximum. Food for thought for our policy makers. Not for the politicians for they would double the loan waivers the next time around and ensure that the money goes to their kith and kin.
A very important article. As one writer, P.Thangaraj pointed out in his article, 'Agriculture: need for a complete revamp', agricultural policy has to be farmer-centric.
The surveys on farm suicides point to the trigger for suicides as inability to repay debts taken at exorbitant rates of interest from money lenders. The proximate cause is crop failures and unremunerative farm gate prices for produce. Remedial measures needed are improving yields, R&D and extension services, increasing substantially agri public investment, developing rural infrastructure (roads, storage&marketing facilities), making available timely and adequate credit through banks and last, but not the least ensuring remunerative price for farm produce.
I think before blaming the UPA government we need to understand that respective state governments should act more aggressively to solve this issue. In my state Andhra Pradesh farmers spend too much money on private irrigation , I don't understand where all these agricultural officers work? I think a serious discussion has to be held on the role of agricultural officers in the national level.
It is clear, to solve the farm crisis, the ruling party and the opposition should come together. The farm input subsidies, debt waivers, minimum support price etc. have miserably failed. In spite of galloping food prices, farmers are the losers. All this shows that both consumers and farmers are being cheated. There is no point in agitating on price-rise organising bandhs, stalling parliament, damaging public and private properties and causing inconvenience to all, at the same time leaving the problem intact. Sadly, this has been the approach of all the political parties.
Two of the biggest states in this unfortunate condition (Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh) are also the ones in which regionalism seems to be the only issue political parties are going after! Sad, and unfortunate that it's not the politicians but the general voter of the state who is to blame for this apathy.
we have seen the abject conditions of farmers since liberalisation started. I think it was one of the major sectors which didn't receive any benefits from reforms, on the contrary lost out in every sense. We need to mend this situation as soon as possible or else 'Reformers' have to face the wrath of farmers. It's terrible to see our own policies inflicting pain on our 'brethern'I feel simple mission statement to solve this issue would be;
a) Reduce the farming expenditure by 10 paise on every 1 rupee spent b) Increase the farm income by 10 paise from the same output received.
Loan waivers and NREGS with all their shortcomings along with paid news which helped the Congress to electorally capitalise on these sent many more of the Congress candidates to the Lok Sabha in 2009 than in 2004. As long as opinion makers, except voices like that of P.Sainath, ignore the misery in rural India and do all they can to somehow push the Congress up front in the electoral race, nothing will change for those who toil to feed us. Sad indeed!
Even though the farmer is the source for anything to keep this world alive nobody cares for him. Farmer is the center point for any industry to survive. Governments are considering only superficial growth considering only industrial growth. People's attitude has to change, give more importance to farmer, more value to farmer, more respect to farmer. Otherwise human beings will perish in no time.
The first scapegoat of nature is one who deals much with it, the farmer. Changing environmental conditions (must be due to global warming) cause direct impact in his life. There is no economic security for a small farmer. Even large farmers don't want to do farming due to high risk along with increased labour costs,thefts & other social hindrances. This forces everyone to quit agro-based occupation and enter into other spheres of activity. Lack of job opportunities at rural area drive them towards small towns and cities. Swelling population in rural areas magnifies these problems. We don't have adequate time & policy to address these issues at rural level. The Government doesn't visualize the farm sector as key infrastructure? It is not only that, but our roof also. Corruption, the most dangerous virus of the society crippled the vital Government functions, whose essence has to meet the needs of rural living network. Suppose, if we steal the crop seeds from the farmer, then we should not blame his inability to supply food for us in future! So, try to offer your good services sincerely to society without weighing the benefits. Good results will reach everyone around you including yourself.Please don't waste your time in mere complaining. Seed positive thoughts around us! Think about the future children of India. With synergy we should address & solve our problems at our level rather than expecting the Government to do it.
Help Agriculture
This is an excellent article. Farmer's suicides need to be seen within the context of government (both national and State policies) that have marginalised medium and small farmers, allowed corporations to spread any kind of misleading information, and on the whole have downplayed the role of local food production. Yet, world-wide, movements show that there has been a significant return to local agriculture, that even urban areas are beginning to grow their own food using organic and natural inputs and the latest of ecological concepts along with traditional practices. Research has shown that only small farms can meet the needs of an increasing world population. Yet, many farmers have been manipulated by advertising to invest in very costly inputs. A significant number of farmers committing suicide have serious debts from these inputs, have only grown 1 or 2 things (now called commodities) and have given up growing food for their own families by inter-cropping, using crop rotations, harvesting water for second seasons or where it is cold making use of simple ways to harness whatever sun is available, etc. Clearly there is a tremendous need for government programmes to pay more attention to these alternatives and stop focusing only on large scale exports and focus more on their local farmers.
They have done so much to this country and continue doing.
Dear Editor,
It seems we have lost all our senses that make us 'human beings'.The plight of poor farmers,even in their deaths,has failed to arouse our collective consciousness.We do not know how many more deaths are required when we will sit up and take stock of the situation.If we don't act now then it's not far away when faulty government policies and greedy corporates together with an erratic climate will sound the ultimate death-knell for Indian farmers.The govt. must invest heavily in agriculture-sector,open up credit facility for all farmers especially the marginal farmers and curb speculative trading of agro-products.If we want to save our farmers and our country from a grave food crisis then we should extend those benefits to farmers which the industrialists have been enjoying till date.
Let's hope good sense prevails on the powers-that-be and resolute actions replace hollow promises.
With warm regards,
Bankim Samaddar
Faridabad
I just read the article and felt sad. When politicos are squandering thousands of crores on inconsequential developments, what I fail to understand is that what are all the policy makers doing. Initially it was poverty, then the farmer suicides and now the unrestrained inflation. With more and more farmers leaving their age old occupation and our population growing, a scenario is being created that may not be very far away from what some of the impoverished nations are suffering especially in poorer regions of the country. It's high time that all of us think for an inclusive growth and development for all. Build infrastructure for farming without ignoring the urban development that will eventually fuel the growth.
With all respects to the author this article is just anecdotal, there is no hard research. I am aware P Sainath writes more than just social satires. I am personally a great fan of his book 'Everyone Loves a Good Drought.' But, what is missing is the analysis and the plausible answers to the issue. Why have farmers with Bt Cotton in Gujarat not committed suicides when compared to their brothers in Vidharbah? In fact, why is Vidharbaha the epicentre of such desperate acts?
Sainath should be commended for higligting the plight farmers and farmers suicides for the last 15 years. On the other hand his statistics and interpretation of numbers creates a wrong impression on the reader. There were 16,000 plus farmers suicides in 2008. But there were far more suicides in the country over all (1,25,000) according to NCRB. Suicide is a complex result of multitude of factors in human life such as family tribulations(marriage, affairs), unemployment, indebtness etc. Unilateral linking of all farmers suicides to indebtness is uncalled for.
It is bad monsoon for the year 2009-10, farmers are not able to yield, so farmers cannot pay bank loans ,so all farmers are below poverty line, please waiver all bank (NATIONAL)loans .
It's insane that industry and services get the kind of help and attention that they do, and agriculture, which is the livelihood of some of the poorest people gets no well-reasoned policies or help - only sops like loan waivers and free electricity. And yet, all governments say they are committed to fighting poverty. How can you fight poverty if you only give charity and sops to the poverty-stricken, that too occasionally? When was the last (or first) time you saw a farmer or an agriculturalist asked for his views on the many business channels that have sprouted or the business section of newspapers? Ever seen a farmer on the annual Budget discussion panel? Yet this is the poorest segment of the population and among the largest too.
My hopes and prayers for you India. I live in an agricultural area of the United States, and while these are difficult times, they are not as difficult as yours. We are losing young and old to suicide, and I share your grief.
The consistency of Sainath follow up on the issue has no parallel in Indian journalism. The Hindu also deserve praise for this relentless efforts to highlight the issue.