The total number of farmers’ suicides in the State from April 1 to October 13 this year has touched an alarming 625. Yet, there is solace. As per the statistics collated by the State Agriculture Department, the trend appears to be on the decline, with only 19 cases reported in October so far, against more than 100 a month in July, August and September.
While the number of farm suicides has reduced, it still continues to be higher when compared to the previous year.
Though this has come as a great relief to the State, experts stress on the need to wait to see if the declining trend will stabilise. They have reason to be cautious as none had thought that the trend of farmers in distress resorting to suicides would reach alarming heights when 10 such deaths were reported in April. Even when the number of farmers taking the extreme step touched 26 in May and 24 in June, there was no inkling about this turning out to be a catastrophe.
It was only when the deaths touched 208 in July that the sector took serious note of it. But despite a hue and cry, it was not possible to curb the unfortunate trend as even August witnessed 208 cases of farmers’ suicides. The deaths, however, reduced to 130 in September, according to the Agriculture Department data.
Experts observe that though the suicides appear to be declining, the 19 deaths in the first 13 days of October is also a serious issue. “In fact, the previous year of 2014–15 witnessed only 58 farmers’ suicides,” pointed out an expert.
Karnataka Agriculture Prices Commission Chairman T.N. Prakash Kammaradi described the reduction in farm suicides as a positive trend and attributed this to the collective measures taken by the entire system, including the government, various institutions and people such as farmers’ leaders, intellectuals, media and religious heads. The brief spell of rain received in the last few weeks too has gone a long way in instilling confidence among farmers, he said. “However, the task now is to completely end the trend of suicides by carrying forward such collective measures,” he said.
Meanwhile, of the 625 suicide cases reported so far, 217 have been accepted for payment of compensation, official sources said.
No. of cases this year
April | 10 |
May | 26 |
June | 24 |
July | 208 |
August | 208 |
September | 130 |
October (till 13) | 19 |
Total | 625 |
Accepted for compensation | 217 |
Rejected for compensation | 181 |
