Suicide by Farmers in Karnataka Agrarian Distress and Possible Alleviatory Steps

Abstract

the developmental efforts are so critically managed that the state continues in that position without sliding down in the hierarchy, but conversely, it may be an indicator of the distress situation in the sector. Reports of distress among farmers coming from most districts in the state are causing much concern. Extreme manifestations of such distress occur in the form of suicides of farmers, reported from most districts of the state. It is necessary to trace the genesis of these unfortunate incidents and to see how they can be averted. Reports relating farmers’ distress in the media indicated loss of crops, price fall, heavy debt burden and inability to meet family requirements, as the main reasons. But similar distressful periods have not been infrequent in the history of the state’s agriculture; even so, suicides were not so common then. In this background, the question is if the changed market situations, forces of commercialisation and failure of village institutions are responsible for farmers’ suicide. Another unfortunate outcome is the scar that the entire debate leaves on the psyche of the farming community and their entrepreneurial capabilities. In the face of this evidence, it will require a full investigation to look into the conditions of distress leading to suicides. The state government appointed an expert committee consisting of economists, sociologists, psychiatrists and agricultural scientists to investigate the problem and seek solutions. The committee recently submitted its report to the state government. Here is an attempt to look into this evidence with a fresh perspective. This paper is an attempt to identify the agroeconomic causes of distress faced by the farming community as reflected by the case studies of the victims. We have tried to understand the stress situations leading to the extreme step and to locate the sociopsychological components responsible. An attempt is also made to seek suggestions for remedial measures from the farming community and match these with the present institutional arrangements to alleviate distress. The agricultural sector in Karnataka is fast losing its position in plan outlays relative to other sectors as well as on a per capita basis. The trends in approved outlays for the agricultural sector (including cooperation, irrigation, and flood control) in the five-year plans show a decline over time. It sledded down to 31 per cent in the Ninth Five-Year Plan (1997-2002) from 48 per cent in the First Five-Year Plan. Stagnation of agricultural production in the state during the 1980s can be attributed to some extent to this fall in the outlays on agriculture in the state plans. This has been reflected in the public and private investment trends in agriculture and has