Farmers Suicide

Farmers Suicides in Vidarbha

By Dr. Sangita Warade

Objectives 1. To study the socio- economic characteristics of the farmers suicided in Vidarbha 2. To study the income and expenditure pattern of the farmers suicided in Vidarbha 3. To identify the factors responsible for the suicide of the farmers.

Different Reports on Farmer’s Suicides Sr. No

Report

By

1

Welfare Subsystem for the Karnataka.

Deshpande2002

2

Market Imperfections and Farmers’ Distress in Mohanty and Shroff Maharashtra-Oct 2003. Gokhale Institue of Politics and Economics Submitted to :- Agro-economic Research Centre,

3

Causes of Farmers Suicides in Maharashtra: Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Osmanabad An Enquiry March-2005 Submitted to:- Mumbai High Court

4

Suicide of Farmers in Maharashtra –Jan 2006

5

Circumstances in which Farmers Committed H.R.Rajput suicide in Buldhana district of Vidarbha Dr.PDKV, Akola Region.-Feb –2006(Seminar Report)

6

A Study on the Distressed Marginal Farmers Savitri Jyotirao Samajikarya Mahavidyalaya , in the Suicide affected villages of Western Yavatmal Vidarbha Zone -Feb-06

7

National Commission on Farmers- Fourth M.S. Swaminathan Report

Shrijit Mishra, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research. Submitted to:- Maharashtra Government.

Causes and Recommendations of Different Reports 1. Welfare Subsystem for the Karnataka Recommendations: Creation of Farmers Welfare Fund and Security System for aged farmers and awareness of the harmful effects of alcohol consumption etc.

2. Market Imperfections and Farmers’ Distress in Maharashtra Causes: The macro as well as the micro level analysis indicates that market imperfection in process of causing loss of agricultural income for the farmers have created economic hardship for them. Such hardship pushes the farmers to distressful conditions when crop fails owing to bad weather or adverse agro-climatic conditions and consequenent indebtness to informal agencies . Recommendations: 1.Creation of Awareness among the farmers about their duties, obligations and responsibilities toward their family, community and society at large 2. Dissemination of the Insecticide Resistance Management (INM) strategies for Cotton. 3.Public and Private agencies must ensure the purity and distribution of seed to interior villages. 4.National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) must be encouraged. 5. Private Sector must be allowed to develop agricultural markets as it will improve market infrastructure and reduce market imperfections 6. Cotton Federation should operate in competition with private traders regarding the cotton prices and should avoid delay in payment. .

Causes and Recommendations of Different Reports continue…. 3. Causes of Farmers Suicides in Maharashtra: An Enquiry Causes: 1.Heavy indebtedness 2.Mismatch of Cost of Cultivation and Minimum Support Prices 3. Overuse of Fertilizers and pesticides and use of Genetically Modified seeds(GM) 4. Increase in number of small farmers (land holdings problem) 5. Private moneylending 6.Rainfed Agriculture. 7. Lack to access the information 8. 80 % victims didn’t received any compensation from government 9. Absence of safety net Major three:Repeated crop failure, rising cost of cultivation and indebtness . Recommendations: 1.Immediate recommendations are:- payment of 2.5 lakh to victim families, investigation of circumstances, creation of safety net covering the assurance of minimum life support system for the cultivator and their production system, provision of facility of e-network for getting information, 2. Long-term Solutions are :- Rehabilitation of the system, policies focusing farmers, policies to support the marginal and small farmers, polices supporting crop cultivation and price support policies. Minimum Support Prices should match up with cost of cultivation, creation of safety net for cultivators and their families. Setting up commission for taking decisions on issues of Genetically Modified Technology and its impact on agriculture. Commission for issue of irrigation schemes in terms of surface and groundwater irrigation.

Causes and Recommendations of Different Reports continue…. 4. Suicide of Farmers in Maharashtra Causes: 1. Indebtness 2. Higher Cost of Cultivation 3. Deterioration of economic status 4. Conflict with other family members 5. Crop failure. 6. Burden of marriages. 7. Addictions 8. Disputes with neighbours 9. Health problems Recommendations: Revitalize rural financial market, Regulation of private moneylenders, finance through Self Help Groups. Crop Insurance, Water management, Land management, diversification, revive of extension, improvement in input quality, organic farming, Integrated Pest Management should be encouraged, Increase in Import Tariff, Price Stabilization, Reduction in use of pesticides, Creation of Helplines, reduction in social expenditures

Causes and Recommendations of Different Reports continue….

5. Circumstances in which Farmers Committed suicide in Buldhana district of Vidarbha Region Causes: Circumstances are interlinked and not a particular cause is responsible. Recommendations: 1.Farmer should adopt recommended cropping pattern. 2. Conservation of water and rainwater harvesting need to be done. 3. Diversification is must 4.Reduction in use of Chemicals (insecticides and fertilizer) 5. Cooperative Farming is recommended. 6.Federation and monopoly cotton procurement scheme should give advance payment for cotton cultivation. 7. Infrastructural development is need to be developed.

Causes and Recommendations of Different Reports continue…. 6. A Study on the Distressed Marginal Farmers in the Suicide affected villages of Western Vidarbha Zone Causes: 81 Reasons are given regarding to Lack of Land Management, Seed and sowing methods problems, adverse economic condition, Lack of Resources management, Social problems, lack of Human Resources Management, lack of Training and Incidental events. Recommendations: 1.Arrangement of trainings and demonstrations at village level 2. Give solutions/demonstrations directly on the farm of the marginal farmers 3.Encourage the supplementary farm enterprises 4. Major emphasis was given on soil and water conservation, watershed development, cropping pattern and diversification

Causes and Recommendations of Different Reports continue….

7. National Commission on Farmers- Fourth Report Recommendations: Land Use, soil health enhancements, augmentation of area under irrigation coupled with efficiency in water use, credit and insurance reform, technology upgradation and dissemination, Market development with supporting infrastructure, health and livelihood security of farm population

Methodology •

• •

Area of Study : Out of total 11 districts the 7district(Buldhana, Akola, Washim, Amravati, Yeotmal, Wardha and Nagpur) of Vidarbha are selected for the study. The Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli have negligible cases of suicides and sample is not sufficient for analysis. So these four district are not included in analysis Total Sample size:- 205 farmers suicide cases are considered (Male = 199 and Female=6) Data Collection Period :2005-06

Actual Number of Farmers Suicide Cases Sr. No

Districts

Numbers of Farmer’s Suicide till sept 2006

Numbers of Farmer’s Suicide considered by govt for genuine reason

1

Buldhana

504

186

2

Akola

308

185

3

Washim

300

179

4

Amravati

570

231

5

Wardha

277

118

6

Yeotmal

815

400

Vidarbha

2774

1299

Source: www.vnss-mission.gov.in , 6 districts of state govt package

Growth in number of Farmers Suicide during last six year Sr. No

Annual period

Actulal Farmers Suicide

(6 districts)

Considered Farmers Suicide (6 districts)

Growth in number of actual suicide cases (percent)

1

1/1/2001 to 31/12/2001

49

29

100

2

1/1/2002 to 31/12/2002

105

72

214

3

1/1/2003 to 31/12/2003

143

89

291

4

1/1/2004 to 31/12/2004

441

249

900

5

1/1/2005 to 31/12/2005

429

273

879

6

1/1/2006 to 31/12/2006

1446

577

2957

1/1/2007 to 31/2/2007

159

10

Total Numbers of Farmers Suicide

2774

1299

Number of Suicides

Growth in Farmers Suicides in Vidarbha 2000

1446

1500 1000 500

49

105

143

441

429

159

0 Yr. 2001 Yr. 2002 Yr. 2003 Yr. 2004 Yr. 2005 Yr. 2006

Year

Upto FebYr. 2007

1)

Age Group of the farmers suicided in Vidarbha In the Vidarbha, the 51.71 percent suicided farmers were ranging between age group of 40 to 59 years, while the 35.12 percent suicided farmers were ranging between age group of 20 to 39 years. Among the districts, in Yeotmal, the 60.78 farmers were ranging between age of 40 to 59 years. 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

1)

Educational Status of the farmers suicided in Vidarbha The 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, 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

3) A) 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 holding per farm were highest in Washim i.e. 4.15 hectares. 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.

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

22.61 8.84

11.59 6.17

District

da rb ha

Vi

dh a

Ak ol a

N

ag p

ur

2.51

Am ra va ti W as hi m

0.00

an a

Bu ld h

ot m

al

2.54

7.98

W ar

25.00 20.00 15.00 10.00 5.00 0.00 Ye

Percent

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

3) B) 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

1)

Family size of the farmers suicided in Vidarbha The family size of Vidarbha family indicates the number of female per family was 2.59 and number of male was 3.15

Family size of farmers suicided in Vidarbha 7.00

6.04

5.63

6.00

5.48

5.33

6.25

6.05

5.40

5.74

4.00 3.18 2.45 3.00 2.00

3.38

3.26 2.78

1.96

2.91 2.57

2.87 2.53

3.45 2.59

3.25 3.00

Male 3.15 2.59

1.00

district

da rb ha Vi

W ar dh a

Ak ola

Na gp ur

W as him

ra va ti Am

Bu ldh an a

al

0.00 Ye ot m

family size

5.00

Female fimily size

5) Fix Capital Investment of the farmers suicided in Vidarbha. The per farm fix capital investment was Rs. 281350.03 in Vidaarbha. Out of this the value of land was Rs. 273360.00 and value of other assets was Rs. 7990.03. The value of other assets was very low and reveals the holding of others assets than land is less, which make difficulties in operating farm practices.

423300.00 358020.00 279480.00 277440.00 273360.00

251940.00 182580.00 141780.00

7990.03

Vid a

rb

ha

8276.00

dh a W ar

Na g

District

8854.77

Ak ola

3780.33

pu r

9130.43

W as him

10718.00

va ti ra Am

Bu lbh a

tm

7345.71

na

6805.00

al

450000.00 400000.00 350000.00 300000.00 250000.00 200000.00 150000.00 100000.00 50000.00 0.00

Ye o

Fix Capital

Fixed Capital of the family of the suicided farmers in Vidarbha

Value Of Land Value of other assets

6) Regular Expenditure of the families of the Farmers Suicided in Vidarbha. The annual regular expenditure on grocery, bills, clothes, luxurious items was Rs. 20808.06 in Vidarbha. The expenditure on grocery, clothes and education was Rs.10946.41(52.61 percent), 3718.28(17.87 percent) and 2664.19(12.80 percent) respectively.

iou

si

Items

l To ta

Ot he

tem s

ills Lu xu r

El

ec t ric ity B

es Cl oth

on uc ati Ed

nu a

lg ro

ce ry

r

25000.00 20808.06 20000.00 15000.00 10946.41 10000.00 2664.19 3718.28 2026.45 857.23 5000.00 595.49 0.00

An

Expenditure

Per annum regular expenditure of the family of the suicided farmers in Vidarbha

7) Last 10 years expenditure on major events/incidences of the families of the Farmers Suicided in Vidarbha Per family the expenditure on major events like marriage, house construction, social ceremonies and illness or the 10 years is considered other than regular expenditure. The estimates indicate that in Vidarbha region the major expenditure was made on marriage during the last 10 years i.e. Rs. 43256.56(54.84 percent), it is followed by house construction (Rs. 20553.30). The total expenditure during last 10 years was Rs. 78879.33. and per annum it comes Rs 7887.93. It indicate the saving of the each family should be at least Rs7887.93 to cover the expenditure on major events the major events. The saving need to be highest in Akola (Rs 13725.45 )

per annum expenditure =7887.93

78879.33

Expenditure

Last 10 years expenditure on major events 90000.00 80000.00 70000.00 60000.00 50000.00 43256.56 40000.00 30000.00 20553.30 20000.00 8126.52 10000.00 0.00 House construction

Marriage

Illness

5068.13

Social Events/Incidence ceromanies

1874.83 Other

Total Expediture

8) Costs and Returns of different enterprises of the families of the suicided farmers in Vidarbha. The net income from all enterprises was Rs. 3627.84 per annum . While the 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

9) Loan Status of the Farmers Suicided in Vidarbha. Out of total loan cases, the 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. Among the districts, the debt per head was highest in Akola i.e. Rs 65710.28, it is followed by Washim Rs.52483.17. Regular family expenditure like grocery, bills, clothes etc as well as expenditure on events likes marriage, house construction, social ceremonies and illness 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 40000

51686.46 50730.25

37487.18 Debt per head

30000 20000 10000

District

W ar dh a Vi da rb ha

Ak ola

Na gp ur

Bu lbh an a Am ra va ti W as him

al

0 Ye ot m

Debt

50000

50098.43 52483.1751685.13 45961.11

10) Reasons of farmers suicide: The 25 reasons forcing the farmers to commit suicides are identified. Out of 25 reasons, 1)Deterioration of economic condition 58 % 2)Continuous crop failure

57 %

3)Improper and unstable price

53 %

4)Bank loan

48 %

5)High cost technology

41 %

6)Family expenditure.

35 %

7)Marriage expenditure

25 %

11) Measure suggested to stop the farmers suicides The farmers suggested some measure to improve the economic condition and to stop the suicides 3) Proper and stable price to their produce

93%

4) Exempted from loan

87%

5) Creation of irrigation infrastructure

49 %

6) Employment generation

42 %

7) Low cost of input chemicals.

42 %

• • • •

• • • •

Conclusion The indebted farmers were 97 percent. The net income from all recourses was negligible i.e.Rs 3627.84 per annum per family The family expenditure was Rs.28695.99 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 to cover the recommended expenditure per family.

Returnwise Costs and Returns of different enterprises per family Income Group

0 to 19999

Sr. No District

20000 to 39999

40001 to 59999

60000 above

Costs

Returns

Costs

Returns

Costs

Returns

Costs

Returns

1

Yeotmal

7265.77

12351.85

28250.00

26705.56

45000.00

40000.00

91500.00

80300.00

2

Bulbhana

8289.20

11715.25

25931.00

27314.00

44000.00

46620.00

70000.00

110100.00

3

Amravati

10265.24

13655.83

26430.00

28913.24

48000.00

47166.67

112250.00

113810.00

4

Washim

10380.00

11280.00

26550.00

27975.00

48175.00

46150.00

67000.00

86333.33

5

Nagpur

7260.71

10663.89

24225.00

26586.40

NA

NA

NA

NA

6

Akola

8536.07

13420.00

28637.50

28861.36

49500.00

55800.00

66000.00

68370.00

7

Wardha

10290.91

12575.00

24400.00

29700.00

NA

NA

NA

NA

Vidarbha

8898.27

12237.40

26346.21

28007.94

46935.00

47147.33

81350.00

91782.67

Sample Size

86(41.95)

79(38.54)

16(7.80)

24(11.71)