Rise in suicides among farmworkers: NCRB

In News

• The number of agricultural labourers who died by suicide in 2020 was 18% higher than the previous year, 
  • The data was published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report. 

• However, suicides among landowning farmers dropped slightly during the pandemic year.

Farmers suicide in 2020

• Overall, 10,677 people engaged in the farm sector died by suicide in 2020, slightly higher than the 10,281 who died in 2019. 
  • They made up 7% of all suicides in the country.
  • In 2020, 5,098 of these agricultural labourers died by suicide, an 18% rise from the 4,324 who died last year.

• Most of these deaths were among those whose primary work and main source of income come from labour activities in agriculture or horticulture. 

• However, among farmers who cultivate their own land, with or without the help of other workers, the number of suicides dropped 3.7%.
• Among tenant farmers who cultivate leased land, there was a 23% drop in suicides from 828 to 639.
• Performance of various states:
  • The worst among States continues to be Maharashtra, with 4,006 suicides in the farm sector, including a 15% increase in farmworker suicides. 
  • The other States with a poor record include Karnataka (2016), Andhra Pradesh (889) and Madhya Pradesh (735). 
    • Karnataka saw a dismal 43% increase in the number of farmworker suicides in 2020.
    • Andhra Pradesh was among the few states that saw an improvement, with 14% fewer people in the farm sector dying by suicide. 

Causes of farmers distress in India

• Lack of access to schemes:
  • Landless agricultural labourers who did not benefit from income support schemes such as PM Kisan 
  • May have faced higher levels of distress during the pandemic.
• Indebtedness:
  • Major causes reportedly are debt trap due to crop failure, illness and alcohol/substance abuse.
• Access to credit:
  • Low access to formal credit and easily available informal credits adds on to the burden of already aggrieved farmers.

• Climate change: 
  • It has increased pest attacks incidents.
  • Also, erratic monsoon leads to significantly higher crop failure.

• Fragmented land holdings coupled with Disguised unemployment:
  • Has left far too many farmers with farms that are too small to be remunerative.
• Mental health:
  • One of the major causes behind suicidal intent is depression due to fear of boycott due to societal pressures.

Way Ahead

• Proactive policy management: 
  • It can maximize benefits for all stakeholders including those who are left out.
• Mental Health Helpline:
  • Increasing awareness about Mental Health. 
• Raising the MSP:
  • Following the suggestion made by MS Swaminathan Committee.
• Upgrading Farming Value Chains:
  • For better prices, agriculture should also develop a value chain consisting of farming, wholesaling, warehousing, logistics, processing and retailing.
• Direct Benefit Transfers:
  • The most effective and least distortionary way to support farmers would be through direct benefit transfers.
• Loan Waivers, not a panacea:
  • What is abundantly clear is that loan waivers aren’t the panacea they’re made out to be political. 
  • Those who want to help India’s farmers should be working much harder to figure out what they really need.

Source: TH