(a) whether a large number of farmers have committed suicide during the last two years and the current year;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise along with the reasons therefor; and
(c) the remedial measures taken by the Government to tackle the issue?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)
(a) & (b): As per “Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India” report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 13,754 and 11,772 suicides were committed by persons self-employed in farming/agriculture during 2012 and 2013 respectively, showing a decreasing trend. State/Union Territory wise, number of suicides committed by persons self- employed in farming/agriculture during the afore-said period is enclosed at Annexure-I. The data relating to suicide by farmers during the current year i.e. 2014 will be published by NCRB in 2015.
As per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), causes of suicides include family problems, illness, drug abuse/addiction, unemployment, property dispute, bankruptcy or sudden change in economic status, poverty, professional/career problem, love affair, barrenness/impotency, cancellation/non-settlement of marriage, dowry dispute, fall in social reputation, causes not known, etc.
Causes of Farmers’ suicide due to agrarian reasons, inter alia, include indebtedness, crop failure, drought, socio-economic and personal.
(c): Even though agriculture is a state subject, the Government of India has taken several steps to revitalize the agriculture sector and improve condition of farming community on sustainable basis by increasing investment, improving farm practices, rural infrastructure, extension, marketing, etc. Various programmes/schemes for the development of agriculture sector are being implemented in a decentralized manner with flexibility to State Governments to formulate and implement appropriate projects to suit their specific requirements.
The thrust of Government is primarily on expansion of farm income, creation of non-farm income opportunities, improvement in productivity of rainfed agriculture, increasing coverage of farming areas under protective irrigation and establishing appropriate backward and forward linkages. Other measures taken by the Government for the benefit of farmers include enhancement in minimum support prices (MSP) of agricultural commodities, increase in institutional credit flow to agriculture sector, debt waiver/relief, interest subvention on crop loans, revival package for strengthening Short Term Rural Cooperative Credit Structure, etc.