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The Macro and Micro Point of View of Farmer Suicides in India

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Abstract

Agricultural researches, development of innovations, their dissemination and Government funding behind the whole process all come to a grinding halt when the ultimate beneficiaries of the process are left to their fate, are left to die. Yes, the most sensitive yet controversial phenomenon of farmer suicide in India is being indicated. In 2015, 12,602 farmers committed suicide in India (NCRB in Accidental deaths and suicides in India, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, 2015). Agriculture and farmers ensure the food and nutritional security of the nation; hence, any danger to the well being of farmers is a cause of national concern. Therefore, it necessitates an understanding of the possible reasons which compel farmers to end their lives. Hence, this article attempts to study farmer suicides over the years and state-wise variations in suicide rates. The normalised farmer suicide rate across the states has been calculated as per the latest available suicide data of 2015. An attempt has been made to identify the correlates of farmer suicides with state-level variables related to agriculture and socio-economic development. The results establish the Durkheimian theory; farmer suicide is an individual phenomenon. A compilation of micro-level studies is presented to support the argument.

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Fig. 1

Source Computed from National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) [2] data for various years and Census of India, 2011 [3] data

Fig. 2

Source Computed from NCRB and Census data for various years

Fig. 3

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR – Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Sangeeta Bhattacharyya & Rajarshi Roy Burman

  2. Division of Agricultural Economics, ICAR – Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi, 110012, India

    P. Venkatesh & K. S. Aditya

Authors
  1. Sangeeta Bhattacharyya
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  2. P. Venkatesh
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  3. K. S. Aditya
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  4. Rajarshi Roy Burman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sangeeta Bhattacharyya.

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Significance Statement

Normalised farmer suicide rates of different states in India have been calculated in this study, and the states with high rates have been identified. Being established that suicide is an individual specific phenomenon, it can be well averted with timely counselling, social support, Government’s debt relief and agro advisory packages of extension system of ICAR and State Agricultural Departments. This also serves as a suggestion to policy makers for the establishment of Farmers’ Counselling Centres in villages. The study is an outside-in (deductive) and inside-out (inductive) approach to analyse this complex issue of national concern and will benefit the ultimate beneficiaries of agricultural researches: the farming community.

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Bhattacharyya, S., Venkatesh, P., Aditya, K.S. et al. The Macro and Micro Point of View of Farmer Suicides in India. Natl. Acad. Sci. Lett. 43, 489–495 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-020-00920-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-020-00920-4

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