FARMERS SUICIDES IN

VIDARBHA

BY EMIL MATHEW BINNY

IIIDC ECONOMICS
ST THOMAS COLLEGE PALA

Farmer Suicides - An issue of

great concern
In recent years, suicide has been spreading like
an epidemic amongst farmers in India suffering
from debt and crop failure. For example, As many
as 601 farmers have killed themselves in
Maharashtra in the three-month span between
January and March 2015. This works out to a
chilling statistic of almost seven farmer suicides
every day, one suicide every three hours.
Increasing incidence of farmer suicides is an issue
of great concern to all. It cannot be solved without
knowing the various reasons behind it. Many
schemes and projects have been stated by the
government to control further suicides but it didnt
help a lot. Deep study is required to control it.

THE NUMBER OF FAMERS COMMITTING SUICIDE IS STAGGERING

More than 100,000 farmers

have taken their lives since
1997.
86.5 percent of farmers who
took their own lives were
financially indebted.
Their average debt was about
$835.
On average, there has been
one farmers suicide every 32
minutes since 2002.

SUICIDE DISTRIBUTION IN INDIA

HDI-VIDARBHA

Note: Bhandara has been sub-divided into Bhandara and Gondia

districts. Similarly, Akola has been sub-divided into Akola and
Washim districts. As such, the current number of districts in
Vidarbha is 11.
Nagpur division(eastern)Bhandara,Chandrapur,Gondia,Nagpur,Wardha,Gadchiroli

REGIONAL SPECS VIDARBHA

Eastern Vidarbha: High rainfall(150cms)

Tanks are present
Main crop-paddy (alluvial soil)
Rich in forests-tribal population
Low income region
Western Vidarbha:scanty rainfall(45-150cms)
Mostly black soil (cotton cultivation)
High income region-SC population
Low forest cover
Central Vidarbha:(Nagpur,Wardha,Yavatmal)
avg rainfall (90-130cms)
cotton., paddy, chilly etc. cultivated

Reasons for suicides

Most of the suicides were because of combination of more than

one factor

MAIN REASONS
Chart Title

10000%
9000%
8000%
7000%
6000%
5000%
4000%
3000%
2000%
1000%
0%
Indebtedness
Health issues

Eco Downfall
Family probs

Reasons
Crop failure
Marriages

Status change
Addiction

MAIN PROBLEMS INDIAN

FARMERS FACE

Credit related issuesAdequate and timely credit

is not given and there are
undue delay in dispensation
of credit (A.P, Kerala,
Madhya Pradesh, Tamil
Nadu, Tripura)
Scales of finance-The
scale of finance fixed by the
authorities is inadequate as

MAIN PROBLEMS INDIAN FARMERS FACE

Documentation and Security

norms-Some of the farmers has
expressed unhappiness about the
security norms and the
documentation process.
Small artisans/self employed persons
not being able to acces bank credit
due to stringent collateral security
norms.

Marketing related issues-There is a huge

difference in
retail price and farm gate price and the same
should be
plugged through appropriate market intervention.
The support prices for various crops are not
announced in the beginning of the season and
future trading in agricultural produce is not
encouraged which prevents Farmers planning
agricultural operations.

Market stabilization and intervention should be

ensured by Government to encourage the
farmers to increase productivity of their farms.
(Gujarat)

Crop Failure
Crop failure is another main reason for farmers to
commit suicide. Following are the various reasons of
crop failure: Disruption in regular rainfall cycle since 2001. Long
dry spells, deficient monsoon.
Single crop a year.
Cotton the dominant crop.
Improper irrigation.
Yield limited by rain, but regular rise in cost of input
lowered margin of profit.
Volatility in market price further lowered return.

OVER DEPENDENCE ON THE MONSOONS

Break down in the

meteorological cycle
of rainfall.
93% of area under
dry land farming.
Which means, totally
dependent on the
rainfall.

LACK OF PROPER IRRIGATION

98% of farmers having committed

suicides had absolutely no irrigation
facilities.

GREEN REVOLUTION

EXPENSIVE TECHNOLOGIES

It is too risky to adopt expensive

technologies.

UNCERTAINTY OF AGRICULTURAL
ENTERPRISE IN INDIA

RISING COSTS OF CULTIVATION

The price for inputs started to rise it

resulted in the rise in the cost for
cultivation.

NEUTRAL SEEDS

The seeds which the private sector

brought in are called as neutral seed or
dummy seed because it makes the land
neutral and moreover it doesnt
support the cycle of repeated sowing.

Giant corporates work with greedy

Governments to
introduce Genetically Modified Crops
(GMC)which put
a lot of unwanted Financial loads on farmers.

Farmers do not get the support of society and

LOAN WAIVER POLICY

the waiver helps only if the loan

has been taken from a
government-backed institution, but
most farmers in Vidarbha borrow
from moneylenders at the start of
the sowing season to buy seeds. Satish Nandgaonkar

WOUNDS THAT MORAL UNIVERSE. IT

TELLS THE FARMER NOT TO BOTHER TO
REPAY HIS NEXT LOAN, BECAUSE, WHO
KNOWS, ANOTHER PARTY WILL BE IN
POWER AND IT TOO WILL CANCEL HIS
DEBTS. WHAT MESSAGE DOES THIS
SEND TO THE HONEST VILLAGE WOMAN
WHO STRUGGLES EVERY WEEK TO
REPAY HER LOAN? - GURCHARAN DAS

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FAMILIES AFTER A FARMER COMMITS SUICIDE?

Farms are confiscated due to

inability to pay back high
interest loans.
Harassment of the family by
corrupt moneylenders.
Widows burdened with the
new responsibility as the sole
breadwinner.
Children sometimes lose both
parents to suicide. Forcing
their education to a halt,
especially if they have to
work in order to provide for
their needs.

GOVT. SCHEMES

SHETKARI BAZAAR

The govt. of Maharashtra has decided to set

up shetkari bazaars in the state. Following
are the objectives of shetkari bazaar : To help farmers to get the reasonable rates
to their produce.
To benefit consumers by giving them fresh
produce at reasonable prices.
Immediate value realization of the produce to
the farmers without any deductions.
To provide produce in appropriate weights
and measures to consumer.
To bring Producers and Consumers together
to avoid chain of middlemen.

REASONS FOR FAILURE OF GOVT. SCHEMES

Farmers' demands were not taken into count while

preparing the relief package. Neither were civil society
organizations, local government bodies, panchayats etc
consulted.
The relief packages were mostly mixture of existing
schemes. Apart from the farmer helpline and the direct
financial assistance, there was scarcely anything new
being offered.
The farmer helpline did not give any substantial help to
farmers.
The basis for selection of beneficiaries under the
assistance scheme was not well-defined. Also, type of
assistance to be given led to problems like a farmer
needing a pair of bullocks getting a pump set and vice
versa.
Awareness regarding the package was also low.

STATISTICS ON FARMER
SUICIDES

Age Group of the suicided farmers

The percentage revealed that the maximum farmers
were belonging to the age group when the person
usually has responsibility of family.
Age Group of the suicided farmers in Vidarbha

11.71

1.46

35.12

0-20 yrs
20-39 yrs
40-59 yrs
Above 60 yrs

51.71

Cropping Pattern of the farm of the suicided farmers in Vidarbha

Cropping Pattern of the farms of the suicided
farmers in Vidarbha
3.94
4.48
1.75
0.39 0.04
0.77
2.39

0.49

35.78

8.71

8.11

33.16

Cotton
Soybean
Tur
Kh. Jowar
Mung
Udid
Sunflower
Groundnut
Wheat
Gram
Safflower
Other Crop

Cropping Pattern of the farm of the suicided farmers in Vidarbha

Average Size of land holding of the farmers suicided in Vidarbha

The average size of land holding is farms of the suicided farmers in Vidarbha was 2.68 ha per farm. The average land

The number of farmers in havening

land between 1 to 1.99 and between 2 to 3.99 were highest i.e. 32.68 and
30.73 percent respectively.
holding per farm were highest in Washim i.e. 4.15 hectares.

Distribution of Farmers as per size of holding

16.59

3.41

16.59
0 to 0.99
1 to 1.99
2 to 3.99

30.73

32.68

4 to 9.99
above 10

Percent

Share of Irrigated land in total land of the farmers suicided in

Vidarbha

25.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00

22.61
8.84
2.54

0.00

7.98
2.51

District

11.59
6.17

Costs and Returns of different enterprises of the families of the

suicided farmers in Vidarbha.
The net income was Rs. 3627.84 per annum . per annum regular expenditure was Rs.20808.06 and expenditure on
events was Rs.7887.93. (total Rs.28695.99). It indicates the expenditure per annum is more by Rs. 25068.15 over the net
income per annum.. If farmers uses recommended expenditure i.e. Rs 37140 per family,

the gap between income and expenditure will be Rs.33512.16.

Income and Expenditure of the family of the suicided
farmers in Vidarbha
30000

20808.06

Income and
Expenditure

20000
10000

3627.84

7887.93
-25068.15

0
-10000
-20000
-30000

Net Income

Peryear regular
Per year
Gap between
family
expenditure on Net Return and
expenditure
Events
Annual
expenditure
Particulars

Gap between recommended expenditure and present net income

of the family of the suicided farmers in Vidarbha
60000
37140

Expenditure and
Income

40000
20000

3627.84

0
-20000
-40000

Net Income

Per annum
recommended
expenditue
particular

Gap between Net Return

and Annual expenditure
-33512.16

Loan Status of the Farmers Suicided in Vidarbha.

42.81 percent loan cases were from cooperative bank , 18.96 percent were from relatives
and 18.68 percent were from nationalized banks in Vidarbha. On average debt per head in Vidarbha
is Rs. 50730.25. The percentage of debted farmers in Vidarbha is 97.07 . the debt per
head was highest in Akola i.e. Rs 65710.28, followed by Washim Rs.52483.17. Regular family expenditure is
significantly correlated with loan in Vidarbha.

Sources of the loan taken by the farmers suicided in Vidarbha

(Percent)

3.98

18.65

18.96
Nationalised Bank
Cooperative Bank
Private Moneylender
Relatives

15.60

Other
42.81

Debt per head of the suicided farmers family in Vidarbha (Rs.)

65710.28

70000
60000

Debt

50000
40000

50098.43 52483.1751685.13
45961.11

51686.46 50730.25

37487.18
Debt per head

30000
20000
10000
0

District

Educational Status of the farmers suicided in Vidarbha

highest percentage of the educational level of suicided farmers in Vidarbha
was high school level i.e. 41.95 percent farmers were high school educated.. Among the districts,
The

farmers in the Amravati were mostly high school educated (58 percent).

Educational Status of the suicided farmers in Vidarbha

7.80

11.71

Illiterate
19.51

Prinmary School
Middle School
High School

41.95

Collage
19.02

Common features in
majority of suicides
91-94 % of suicides are by family heads.
91-97 % of those who committed suicide are males.
84 to 89 percent are married.
98 percent had no access to irrigation.

ON AVERAGE, ONE INDIAN FARMER

COMMITTED SUICIDE EVERY 32
MINUTES BETWEEN 1997 AND 2005.
SINCE 2002, THIS HAS BECOME ONE
SUICIDE EVERY 30 MINUTES.

IN MAHARASHTRA ALONE, THERE WAS

ONE SUICIDE EVERY THREE HOURS. IT
GOT EVEN WORSE AFTER 2001. IT ROSE
TO ONE FARM SUICIDE EVERY 48
MINUTES IN THESE BIG FOUR STATES.
THE BIG FOUR HAVE TOGETHER SEEN
89,362 FARMERS SUICIDES BETWEEN
1997 AND 2005, OR 44,102 BETWEEN
2002 AND 2005.

VIDARBHA REMAINS A GRIM

STATISTIC. ONE SUICIDE IN EVERY
SEVEN HOURS.
MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE WHO
COMMITTED SUICIDE WERE
BETWEEN 20 AND 45, THEIR MOST
PRODUCTIVE YEARS.

CONCLUSIONS

farmers in India are paying more prices for the inputs like
seeds,pesticides, fertilizers, electricity, water, and labor
whereas the prices has grown down
As the lower societies have gone much beyond their capacities
to bear with the globalisation. We have gone in for internal
reforms first rather than external directly
due to regional disparities Vidarbha region remains neglected
in industrialization and FDI attraction
more and more private parties have entered the market and
captured most of the business who manipulate prices and
capture market
As an impact of globalisation countries like Sudan, Israel,
Egypt sell their quality crops at much cheaper rates in India
and abroad
farmers have started converting the agricultural land into non
agriculture for the urban usage farmers have started
converting the agricultural land into non agriculture for the

SUGGESTIONS

innovations and effective implementation of govt policies

suiting to the new market needs and fast changing grim
scenario
Import duties on agri products to be raised
Various subsidies, ensured loan disbursement from the
nationalized banks at comparatively lower rates be availed to
those cotton growers.
local bodies should take over the supply of quality seeds and
required inputs. Further the Gram Panchayat should purchase
tractors and advanced equipment to give them on rental basis
cooperative farming should be encouraged
effective programme of water conservation, stopping
degradation of soil, increased irrigation facilities and the
electricity supply at subsidized rates
Educated children of farmers

efforts should be taken to improve the quality of the soil

Since 85% of the total land under the crop production is dry
and barren more dams, canals, wells, tube wells be
constructed
cooperative activity, programme similar to that of
Kutumbshree of Kerla state
More and more number of small and large industries be
developed in the region, encouraging the industrialization
through subsidies and incentives to provide employment
avenues
Provision of e : choupals (Electronic Market) and electronic
auction halls which are connected to national, international
market places in each district
Relief funds to be better managed
Backward & Forward linkages be developed like imp in
warehousing
Elimination of middlemen & touts from the market chain
Last and the most important factor is remunerative prices for
the agricultural produces be availed to the farmers by Govt

FARMERS DEMANDS
Immediate Measures

Immediate compensation for

crop failure
Remunerative prices, direct
procurement from farmers
Modify export/import policies
and tariffs in favour of Indian
farmers
Provide ex-gratia and loan
repayment support for all
families of farmer suicides in

FARMERS DEMANDS
Addressing Root Causes

Price Compensation system for all food

crops: when MSPs or market prices are
less than Target Price (Cost of
Cultivation + 50%), the difference
should be paid directly to farmers
Guarantee minimum living incomes to
all farmers
Promote sustainable agriculture which
reduces cost of cultivation and crop
risk

FARMERS DEMANDS
Addressing Root Causes (contd)
Comprehensive rainfed agriculture
mission based on diverse cropping
systems, protective irrigation and
livestock systems
Bank credit to all farmers with
adequate scale of finance
Effective crop insurance to cover all
crops and all farmers
Inclusion of tenant farmers in all
support systems

Measure suggested to stop the farmers suicides

The farmers suggested some measure to improve the
economic condition and to stop the suicides
1) Proper and stable price to their produce
2) Exempted from loan

87%

3) Creation of irrigation infrastructure

4) Employment generation
5) Low cost of input chemicals.

93%

49 %

42 %
42 %

SEVEN STEP FORMULA(BASED ON RADHAKRISHNA

COMMITTEE REPORT)

Debt recovery suspension by centre

20 year credit line to banks
State should make farming viable
Recogonise the role of NGOs and
creation of FSHG
Open up the Vidarbha region to
corporates but with riders
Help corporates earn carbon credits
States role in farmer corporate dispute
settlement

Conclusion

The indebted farmers were 97 percent.

The net income from all recourses was negligible
around
Rs 3627.84 per annum per family
The family expenditure was around Rs.32000 per
annum per family.
The price received per quintal was not stable and not
covering the cost of cultivation.

Policy Implications

The farmer may be exempted from loan.

The efforts are needed to get proper and stable price
for his produce .
The basic infrastructure can be created to increase
income from different sources.
Income from subsidiary enterprises can be increased
for the upliftment of the economic condition of farmers

THANK
YOU