(a) whether the incidents of suicide by farmers are rising throughout the country despite the
rehabilitation package and loan waiver by the Government;
(b) if so, the details thereof during the last two years and the current year,State-wise;
(c) whether any survey or assessment has been made to study the impact of globalisation on
agriculture;and
(d) if so,the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE(SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)
(a) & (b): The suicides by farmers have been reported mainly from the states of Andhra Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Kamataka and Kerala. Some cases of suicides by fanners have also been reported from
the states of Gujarat, Punjab and Tamil Nadu. A statement indicating the number of suicides by
farmers as reported by the State Governments is at Annexure. As reported by the State Governments,
the causes for suicide by farmers are broadly crop failure, indebtedness, drought and social &
economic insecurity.To address the problem of suicide by farmers, the Government of India approved
a rehabilitation package of Rs. 16978.69 crore for 31 Districts in the four States of Andhra
Pradesh,Maharashtra,Kamataka and Kerala,reporting comparatively higher number of suicides by
fanners.The package includes both immediate and medium term measures. The rehabilitation package
aims at establishing a sustainable and viable farming and livelihood support system through debt
relief to farmers, improved supply of institutional credit, crop centric approach to agriculture,
assured irrigation facilities, watershed management, better extension and fanning support services
and subsidiary income opportunities through horticulture, livestock, dairying, fisheries etc. An
amount of Rs.l 1463.49 crore (about 67.51% of total package cost) has been released by
Central/State Governments and Banks under the package up to 30.06.2008. Measures taken by
Government include an debt waiver and debt relief scheme for farmers announced in the Union Budget
2008-09 to address the problem of indebtedness of farmers in the country. In addition, for
revitalization of agriculture sector, Government in a major policy reorientation has approved the
National Policy for Farmers and launched new schemes of Rashtriya Kirishi Vikas Yqjana and National
Food Security Mission.
(c)& (d): In a study conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture on the impact of WTO on Indian
agriculture in the year 1999,it was observed that the ex-post gains accruing to Indian agriculture
seems to be very little, since developed countries have used various escape routes in the Agreement
on Agriculture in protecting their agriculture sector. The study also stated that our agriculture
will stand to gain if we bring about improvement in irrigation, transport, agriculture extension
services and research.
In the current WTO negotiations it has been agreed to have the mechanisms of Special Products and
Special Safeguard Mechanism to address the concerns of developing countries relating to food
security,livelihood security and rural development.