Farmers of India: How to reduce the suicide rate

Though India is an agrarian country because nearly 70% of its people directly or indirectly depends on the agriculture. But according to the report of 2014, 18,241 farmers were committed suicide. The rate of farmer suicide is 11% of all suicides in India. The concerned states are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In the same line, Panjab is known for green revolution. But from 1995 to 2015, 4687 farmers have committed suicide. It has depicted the poverty-stricken picture of the Indian farmer family.

Reasons behind the farmer’s suicide are explained below:

1.      Cost of the agriculture: The prices of agricultural raw materials such as cost of chemicals and seeds, expenses of agricultural instruments, wedges of the labour have been increasing rapidly. So the expenses of the agriculture has gone high.

2.      Unpaid Bank Loan: According to the NCRB’s report, due to the high bank loan, in 2015, 2474 (out of 3000 farmers suicides) farmers have committed suicide. It has highlighted that farmers are not able to pay the bank loan and knowing the all conditions, local bank officials have been continuously harassing them for paying the money. In the same line, due to the poor awareness, these farmers have taken only 9.8% loan from money-lenders. So, the tremendous burden of loan, brutal Torture of hooligans send by the money lenders are the most important reasons of farmer’s suicide In India.

3.      Linkage with the market: due to the communication issues, still now, farmers are not directly linked the desired market. They have to depend on the middle man to sale the produced crop.

4.      Lack of awareness:  Farmers are not educated properly. They don’t know how to utilise modern technologies which will be helpful for them to upgrade their life-style.

5.      Water Crisis: Water is the major influencing factor for agriculture. Recently, people have witnessed the fight between two states (Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) for the getting access of the river water.

6.      Climate Change has acted as villain in India. Due to the climate change, the nature of the weather has changed and it has effected the rain fall. So, the agricultural production has decreased with the changing of the weather.

7.      After globalisation, the growth of urbanisation has increased and it has been destroying the agricultural land. On other hand, due to the huge population, agricultural lands have been used in other purposes.

How can we reduce the rate of farmer suicides?

Some Initiatives have already taken by the Government of India. Both Central and States Government have given relief to the farmer by waiving the debts of the farmers. But till now, farmers have been fighting for survive. Other essential initiatives are described below:

1.      Protecting crops: By the help of newest technology, farmers can easily prevent the crop destruction due to the pest and other deadly Disease. “Vietnam’s no-spray early rule” will help us to mitigate this problem.

2.      Lower cost of the agricultural raw materials: In case of purchasing fertiliser, either subsidy or extra funding is required to reduce the production cost.

3.      Linkage with premier Institutes: The premier institutes such as IIMs,IITs should come forwarded to help the farmer to grow. So, it is important to make bridge among the farmers, concerned Industries and the premier institutes of our nation.

4.      CSR : By implementing the CSR Funds, quality of the life can be increased. If farmers can get solar pumps, access of modern technologies, their sufferings will be evaporated.

5.      On the other hand, if they will go for social leadership building program or entrepreneurship building program, they will learn how to increase their family incomes. A model should be prepared, which will make the farmer self-sustainable. Similarly, promotion of ayurvedic agriculture, organic agriculture will help them to earn more. In the same line, massive training and motivation will increase the per capita agricultural productivity. Also, If they have been encouraged to go for export, it will also help them to make their life beautiful.

6.      Initiatives have to be taken to solve the farmer’s loan problem. It will protect the family income of the farmer.

7.      Socio-environmental interventions will be the game changer.