Status and Growth Rate of Farmer Suicides in India

Farmer suicides have become a matter of serious concern for Indian agriculture. Indian agriculture has come a long way in terms of production, infrastructure and technology since independence but this development is not reflected in the living standard of a majority of Indian farmers. Indian peasantry faces extreme poverty and severe financial crisis which forces them to end their life as a last resort to escape their situation. The suicide rate has more or less increased in a majority of Indian states showing the vulnerable condition of Indian farmers. The study of compound growth rate of farmer suicides over the past 12 years based on secondary data from the reports of National Crime Records Bureau shows a declining trend at all India level but the number of farm suicides is alarmingly high for the entire decade. Poverty is one of the prime factor for farm suicide which is proved by the positive correlation it bears to the suicide rate in the country.