Farmer Suicides in Tamil Nadu

AERC Research Study No: 160
Farmer Suicides in Tamil Nadu
Dr. K. Jothi Sivagnanam

Professor and Director i/c
Agro Economic Research Centre

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Government of India, New Delhi
University of Madras
Chennai-600 005, Tamil Nadu
January 2017
AERC Research Study No: 160
Farmer Suicides in Tamil Nadu


Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
University of Madras
Chennai-600 005, Tamil Nadu
January 2017
© Agro-Economic Research Centre, University of Madras, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu.AERC Research Study No: 160
Published by

Professor and Director
Research Study Prepared by
Dr. K. Murugan
Research Associate/
Senior Research Investigator
Agro-Economic Research Centre

(For the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry)
(Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, New
Delhi) University of Madras, Chepauk, Chennai -600 005
Tamil Nadu
Phone No: 044-25399649, 25365406

Mobile: 09444285357
Fax: 044-25365406
Mail:kjothisiva24@gmail.com
Data Submitted:30THJanuary, 2017.
Report submitted: February, 2017.
Preface
Farmer suicides are the burning issues in the political and

administrative level in Tamil Nadu in recent years. During past two
decades, committing suicide of farmers and agricultural labours have
increased. The main objectives are to study the causes leading to farmers’
suicides including production and market risks, sociological, psychological
and other family related factors responsible for farmer suicides in Tamil
Nadu. Various factors are involved in the farmer’s suicides such as
monsoon failure, high debt burdens, genetically modified crops,
government policies, public mental health, personal issues, pressure from
credit agency for repayment of loan, poor marketing system, inherited
poverty of farm families, weak psychology, crop failure, lack of government
protection of farmers and family problems. The policy makers and
scholars are noted different connotations and conflicting reasons for
farmer suicides.The farmer’s suicide rate in farm distressed districts such
as like Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Pudukottai and Tirunelveli
relatively high among the state. The agrarian distress, farmer suicides
have been relatively more recent years. farmers in the wake of imminent
crop failure and fear of inability to repay crop loans and their fields on
seeing their crops withering away due to lack of sufficient water,
particularly in the Cauvery command area dependent on canal irrigation
and non-availability of adequate storage in Mettur dam at the head of the
system in the wake of Karnataka's obduracy.

University of Madras, Chennai
kjothisiva24@gmail.com
Mobile No: 09444285357
Acknowledgements
The study on “Farmer Suicides in Tamil Nadu” has been carried out
at the Agro-EconomicResearch Centre, University of Madras, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu, as suggested and sponsored by the Directorate of Economic
andStatistics, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government
ofIndia, New Delhi.We are grateful to the Madam Ms. Sangeeta Verma
(Economic andStatistical Adviser) and Shri P. C. Bodh (Adviser-AER
Division) ofDirectorate of Economic and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture
andFarmers Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, for their guidance
andnecessary support in completion of this study.
We are grateful to Commissioner of Agriculture and staff of
Department of Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai for
providing the necessary information and secondary dataas well as support
to our data collection. We are also thankful K. Mayilvaganam,Joint
Director of Agriculture, Tiruvarur, Mr. Elanchiziyan, Joint Director of
Agriculture, Thanjavur and Mr. Sekar,Joint Director of Agriculture,
Nagapattinam for their support and cooperation during the field survey.
We also thank Mr. Mathiyalagan, Deputy Director of Agriculture,
Tiruvarur forproviding necessary assistance.We would thank Mr. Ramesh,
Mr. Kumar, AAO, Thiruthuraipoondi, Mr. Sitarasu, AAO, Mannarkudi for
their support during field visit. We also thank Mr. G. Mooventhan, Field
Investigator for associate with collection of primary survey. We would
thank Mr. Santhiran, Office Assistant and Mr. K. Vinoth Tabulator, AERC
for their office support.
Professor and Director i/c,
University of Madras, Chennai
kjothisiva24@gmail.com
Mobile No: 09444285357
Contents
Chapters Title Page No.
I Introduction 1-19
Farmers Suicide Scenario in Tamil

II 20-46
Nadu
Socio-economic Profile of the Victim

III Households 47-70
Causes and Consequences of Suicide

IV 71-99
based on Primary Survey
V Summary and Conclusions 100-112

Executive Summary
The farmer’s suicide rate in the distressed districts of Nagapattinam,

fThanjavur, Thiruvarur, Pudukottai and Tirunelveli arerelatively high in
the state and mostly concentrated in the five districts located in the
central parts of Tamil Nadu. In all these districts, the farmer’s suicide rate
was relatively high. Generally, farmers’ suicide is higher in those districts
which concentrate more on cultivation of food and commercial crops.
The study revealed that 50 per cent of the farmers who committed
suicide were in the age group of above 60 years followed by the middle age
groups. Incidence of suicide was the highest among the OBC followed by
the SC population.Family tensions is the most important causes. Further
the failure of social institutions like children’s education and the birth of
girl children have further aggravated the problem. The majority of the
farmers committed suicide by consuming poison (pesticides) as also by
hanging themselves.
One -third of the victims were illiterates. A very small proportion

had studied up to degree level. They did not have adequate education and
had low levels of schooling. Most of themwho committed suicide were
marginal and small farmers. The percent share of area of land holdings
are 20 percent, 28 percent and 52 percent of marginal, small and medium
farms. Total owned landholding works out to 2.52 acres.
The proportion of area under irrigation among districts like

Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam is terribly low. Almost all the
farmers in the delta region critically depend on Cauvery river water. When
not released, the farmers face a very high risk and uncertainties and are
pushed towards depression as there is no other water source available.
The delta region has experienced insufficient rainfall during this year.
The percentage share of incomes from agriculture, dairy and animal
husbandry are 72 percent and 21 percent, respectively. It is to be noted
that the income-generating capacity of the agricultural sector is very low.
The share of food and non-food spending are 72 percent and 28 percent,
respectively. The total surplus of income per household is estimated to be
Rs. 37, 726 per annum.
Paddy and cotton crops hold the dominant share in the cultivation
during kharif season. During rabi seasons, paddy, cotton and groundnuts
have a dominant share. When in comparison, the gross return and cost of
cultivation for paddy crop is higher in kharif season than in the rabi
season. Return from groundnut is also higher compared to rabi season.
But the cost of cultivation from groundnuts are higher in rabi season than
the kharif season. During summer season, most of the farmers are
cultivating millets and green gram.
Manyhad taken loans from the institutional agencies. Particularly,

63 percent had borrowed from cooperative banks and 30 percent from
commercial banks. It accounted for 90 percent and 10 percent of the
farming and non-farming purposes, respectively. On the other hand, the
farmers who used commercial banks, accounted for 33 percent and 67
percent for farming and non-farming sectors. It is to be noted that the
cooperative banks are used by the farmers for more farming purposes
than the non-farming purposes. Whereas, the commercial banks, the
farmers access more for non-farming purposes than the farming activities.
They use the loans more for farming purposes than non-farming.
The farmers access more loans from institutional credit than the non-
institutional sources. Non-farming purposes include social functions,
family expenses, investment in business to name a few. The institutional
sources provide the low-cost loan facilities, repayment facilities and delay
repayment in the case of crop failure. The amount increases with the
failure of the crop.
The small and marginal farmers who are the victims mainly
borrowed from moneylenders, landlords and relatives. They have small
size of land holding which is insufficient as collateral. The cooperative
banks and commercial banks adopt difficult procedures like producing
documents like certificate of owned land, patta certificate and other
related documents. Therefore, they have adopted alternative sources of
credit. The preference of the victims’ are borrowing more from the
moneylenders and informal sources.
Among social causes, majority of them reported that the poverty is

main social cause which has been further aggravated by modernization of
agriculture, adoption new technology, high cost of cultivation and low
profits and incomes of the farmers. Drug abuse and alcoholic addiction is
another fundamental social cause. Three-fifths of them reported that the
drug abuse and alcoholic addiction is the important social problem. Much
of the farmers are addicted to drinking which creates lot a lot of social and
economic problem within their family life. The drug abuse is one of the
main reason for personal health problem and illness. Drinking habits of
the farmers reduce their productive capacity in their farming and distracts
them from the farming activities.
Gambling and betting is another important social causes. One third

of them reported that the gambling and betting habits are main social
cause’s foe indebtedness in the rural areas. During the leisure time, the
farmers engage themselves in gambling and betting.
Again one-third reported that they have to spend exorbitantly. The

daughter and son marriage is most important social causes. One-on their
children’s marriages which is a social compulsion. The daughter and son’s
marriage is mainly dependent upon the income earning capacity of the
famers. So, failure of the crops affect the son’s/ daughter’s life. Marriages
are source of dispute with the family members. In Tamil Nadu, suicides
are the result of mental stress arising out of poverty and indebtedness.
Indebtedness and the inability to earn enough income affects the farmers
feeling of self-esteem and respect.
It is found that the lack of access to irrigation is one of the major

cause for farmer’s suicides. Most of them are mainly depending upon the
Cauvery canal water system. It is pointed out that, most of these delta
regions are distributing Cauvery water unevenly. The water is not
equitably distributed and shared due to inter-state politics.The gravity of
the situation prevailing in the state is mainly due to monsoon failure.
Farmers in Tamilnadu have received only one-third of their share from the
Government of Karnataka.
There is almost no rain during the paddy, pulses and cotton

sowing season which has resulted in crop failure. The North-West
monsoon has failed in Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and
Pudukottai Districts. The main reason for suicides is crop failure arising
out of drought in the region and also low levels of rainfall and decline of
ground water in the study area. Two-thirds of them reported that the
failure of rainfall and drought is a major reason for farmer’s suicides.
The ground water level also reduced during this season. There is no
water in borewells and open wells. Therefore, the cultivation of paddy crop
is totally affected. More than 50 per cent of the area is affected by the
severe drought.Thus, the paddy production also declined by 50 percent
during September 2016 to January, 2017. It is observed that the
monsoon failure and absence of water flow in the Cauvery River and the
irrigation canals has dealt a crippling blow.The farmers have pleaded for
immediate and substantial relief from Union and State Governments.
The crop failure is a major reason for sudden death of farmers in

Tamil Nadu. They fear the inability to repay crop loans which has
accumulated for three years. They are seeing their crops on fire due to
lack of irrigation facilities. As mentioned earlier the lack of adequate water
in Mettur Dam and the dispute with Karnataka have further aggravated
the situation. The farmers are losing their kuruvai crop due to the above
reasons. As a result, majority of the farmers are affected in the delta and
surrounding regions.
The natural calamities and accidental fire of crops is the major

cause for suicides. Three-fourths of them reported that the accidental fire
of paddy crop, cotton and pulses are main reasons for this incidence
during 2015-16. This high level of incidence occurred because of drought
conditions and non-availability of water in the Cauvery River, borewell,
open well and ground water in the current year. The Mettur Dam was
opened late and the water was insufficiently distributed. The entire water
distribution stopped, coupled with decline in rainfall.
In Tamil Nadu, ground water table has been declining steadily over
the past five years. This is the result of indiscriminate withdrawal of water
following urbanization and lack of rechargeable sources. They is the high
risk of digging new bore wells as the ground water table levels were falling
due to recurring droughts. About one-third of the farmers were involved in
digging of additional bore wells to save the standing crop such as paddy,
cotton, sugarcane, groundnuts, pulses and gingili. The losses were much
more where the bore wells yielded water for a few days, as they had to
invest on pipes and a pump sets. The settlement of the amount was very
difficult during the time of failure crop. There is no source for repayment
of the amount in time. It is burden the farmers as well as whole family
members in a village.
It is observed that the important factor for suicides is the

indebtedness. The study of the delta region in Tamil Nadu found that in
the large portion of the farmers’ suicide, many cited indebtedness as an
important reason for their relative’s suicide. Debt makes small and
marginal farmers extremely vulnerable to disruptions such as illness or
crop failure because of extreme weather or pests. The seasonal crop loan
limits for different crops are inadequate to meet the higher and increasing
cost of cultivation.
Fifty per cent reported that the non-agricultural loan is major

causes of indebtedness. The debts were incurred on account of increasing
personal reasons like children education expenses, marriage, gambling,
illicit relations and festivals. The farmers were not earning enough
incomes from crop cultivation. Further, the failure of crops and accidental
fire in their farms aggravated the situation.
The co-operative society and commercial banks pressurized the

farmers into the settlement of the debt amount. Two-thirds reported that
the pressure from institutional organization is major causes of
indebtedness. The accumulation of this amount and immediate
repayment of debt has become very difficult to the farmers. The
indebtedness is because of continuous crop losses due to the inadequate
rainfall, drying up of institutional credit for small and marginal farmers,
sharp increase in the cost of production, declining prices of agricultural
commodities, withdrawal of subsidies to agricultural sector.
Most of the family members of the victims reported that farmers

were under depression due to the fact that their livelihoods were
negatively impacted by poor economic conditions and insecurity.Family
have only fragmented pieces of land without any irrigation and timely
finance. Farmer’s suicides leave the victim’s households totally clueless
and helpless.Another important view is there are no other earning
members in their families. A large majority of them are children, school
and college going youths. They could not go for any employment
immediately.
Fifty per cent of them stopped their farming activities in the short
term, because lack of manage finance to manage the cropping activities.
The family members including women and childrenrefrained from focusing
on agricultural operations. As women cannot manage the cultivation
activities, they lease the land which forces another major risk of losing the
land itself. Some of the family members are withdrawing their children
from schools forcing them to farming activities to augment household
incomes.
The inability of the farmers to arrange for grans marriage

celebrations of their children is another major social cause. The family
members have been forced to postpone their son’s /daughter marriage
indefinitely. Land is sold for repayment of debts, medical treatment and
diseases, marriage of children. The repayment of outstanding loans from
earlier borrowings was reported to be the single-most important reason.
The root cause behind the suicides is the fact that farming in Tamil
Nadu has no larger remained financially viable. There are at least three
major reasons why farming in Tamil Nadu has become financially
unviable. They are inadequate irrigation facilities, acute shortage of
electric pump-set connections and inadequate supply of institutional
credit.
The study clearly concludes that agriculture related suicides and

deaths have been happening in the delta region. Water shortage, crop
failure has played an important role in most of these deaths. The
Government should seriously take up the issue and the first step is to
accept that there are farmers who have taken the extreme step due to fear
of crop failure and set up a process for identifying and providing suitable
relief for their families.
Policy Implications
Many family members are not disclosing all details about of the victims.
 The interference of the local political leaders makes it difficult to get
the compensation. The local leaders are manipulating the situation
with political cards and misguide the government officials.
 The Government should take adequate measures to curb the

interference of the local political leaders in deciding the
compensation based on political identities of the victims and ensure
that the compensation is paid to the victim households irrespective
of their political affinities.
 The Government should give crop insurance to all the farms. The
Government should ensure the crop insurance is paid during the
heavy rainfall season or lack of rainfall seasons.
 If case of crop fire, the government should compensate for it fully.
 The Government should create a separate fund to compensate the

victim’s households at the earliest without any leakage and delay.
 The state government should instruct the co-operative societies to

provide the crop loan facilities to marginal and small farmers with
easy processes and friendly documentation on a priority basis in the
village.
 The government should set up counselling centres in various rural

areas to prevent suicides amongst the farmers. The support of the
agricultural associations should be sought by the government to
identify such farmers in deep distress in quick time and bring them
to the counselling centre. Further, the services of NGOs with
expertise in counselling should also be availed by the government.
 Impact of the present distress conditions would last for several

years amongst the farmer’s families. Therefore, it is necessary to
give the farmers with small holdings long-term relief by way of
waiving all loans taken for agricultural purposes whether from
government banks or private lenders.
 In the case of small and marginal farmers who are the relations of
the victims, they should be given free ration, free education for their
children and free electricity for their houses for the next six months.
This should be done on a war footing.
 The state must start relief operations in drought-hit areas without

waiting for Union’s Government announcement.
 Majority of the farmers who have borrowed from cooperative and

commercial banks cannot repay their loans. The state government
should waive or accept the crop loans.
 The government should allot more funds to carry out desilting of

channels, tanks, lakes and ponds across the Tamil Nadu. The work
must be assigned to farmers and agricultural labours instead of
contractors.
 The government should also set up social wells which would benefit
the farming community in future. Since ground water table is fast
depleting, use of social wells should be encouraged.
 The government should construct atleast 100 check dams across

Cauvery and Kollidam, starting from Mettur dam to Grand Anaicut.
This would help to harvest minimum 200 TMC of water. The dams
should be handed over to the farmers and agriculture labours in the
respective areas. Adequate infrastructure facilities should be made
available in the river basin, otherwise, 300 TMC of water would go
west due to the lack of infrastructure.
 The farming community urged the government to waive off all crop
loans availed by farmers from cooperative and nationalized banks.
 The government should ensure that funds are provided during the
time of distress.
 The Union and State Governments should allot more funds in the
budget for the agriculture sector.
 The government should inspect the crop condition and drought

situation. Based on that, the government should provide the relief
measures accordingly.
 The Union Government should set up Cauvery Management Board
without any delay. The gravity of the situation prevailing in the state
due to monsoon failure will further aggravate.. The hurt of the
farmers is the failure on the part of the Tamil Nadu government to
demand its share of theCauvery water. The state received only 66.60
TMC FT in June to December, against the requirement of 179 TMC
FT. The State has received only one-third of its water share from the
Karnataka government.
 The government should review the cropping pattern in different

parts of Tamil Nadu. The government should advice the farmers for
adopting new kind of methods of cultivation. The farmers now are
adopting the traditional methods of cultivation without modern
inputs.
 It is also advised to adopt drip irrigation systems and rain

harvesting system in the state. The farmers should change their
mono-cropping pattern to multiple crops based on the agro-climatic
conditions.
 The banking sector instructed by the government as well as by the

RBI should remove the undue restrictions on farmers by introducing
rigid criteria about season, cropping pattern and the scale of
finance.
 The cooperative and commercial banking sector should provide

adequate extension services with crop loan facilities.
 The state government should introduce the Minimum Support

Prices (MSPs) norms for all crops.
 The state government should follow prevailing agricultural

marketing reform acts and regulation. The cooperative societies and
banks needs to be reorganized in an effective and efficient way.
Additionally, the farmers should be informed about prices of the
agriculture produce in different markets at their respective villages.
 The Government should actively encourage the basic infrastructural

facilities such as rural warehouses and cold storage facilities in the
rural areas through Village Gram Panchayats and co-operative
societies.
 Government of Tamil Nadu should also introduce social security

measures so as to improve the standard of living of the distressed
farmers, especially those from the suicide-prone districts of delta.
 The Government should take initiative in projects of soil
conservation, construction of farm-bunds, farm-lakes and wells for
the benefit of farmers using the Employment Guarantee Scheme.
This Scheme could also be used for soil conservation, watershed
development, rainwater harvesting.
 The Government should supply good quality seeds to distressed

farmers. Alternatively, the farmers should also be advised about the
use of the traditional way of seeds collection from the farming
community themselves for their own use.
 The government should ensure crop insurance scheme for all the
farmers.
 The government should make provision for sufficient funds to be

provided to distressed farmers’ families for fodder for their animals.
 The Government should provide adequate grant to all families

having children of marriageable age. Such grants should be
provided through organizations conducting community-marriages.
Chapter I
Introduction
India is a developing economy and it is fast growing economy in the

World. Though the share of services sector in GDP has increased sharply in
recent decades along with a commensurate sharp decline in the share of
agricultural sector in GDP, the share of workforce depending on agriculture
has not come down as expected. The increasing share of services and more
or less constant share of industrial sector in GDP were able to cater only to
small share of employment whereas the agriculture sector with its declining
share in GDP still continue to provide employment to large share of
workforce followed by the construction sector. Almost half of India’s
population still depending on agriculture for their livelihood.
The industrial and service sector, though have supported for higher
growth, were not enough for the development of the country as whole. In
our country, a large majority of the people (about 60 percent) have engaged
in agriculture as it is their main stream of the livelihood. Therefore, growth
and development of agricultural sector continue to be important from the
perspective of growth and distribution.
Further, about 60 percent of the people in India reside in rural areas

and agricultural and allied activities are the main source of their income.
However, since the new economic reform policies of the nineties, both the
union government and the state governments have not paid their adequate
policy focus on the agricultural sector. This kind of neglect has affected the
sector very much. It has not only affected the agricultural sector but the
entire rural economy has suffered due to the poor and uncertain
performance of the agricultural sector.
1
Under the changed economic policy scenario, the agricultural sector
have been facing many challenges. The Government of India signed GATTS
and adopted WTO policies and they have adversely affected the agricultural
sector of developing and underdeveloped nations.
In addition to the lack of public support to the agricultural sector,

The farmer’s livelihood have not improved much in recent decades due to
various other factors like the ever increasing cost of cultivation, highly
fluctuating output prices, and the resultant risk attached. There is no profit
margin to the farmers and agriculture becomes not so successful due to
uncertain monsoon and conditions. As a result of all these developments,
the average farm income has come down but the average debt of the farmers
have increased.
Though all these problems are not new to the farmers, they have been
somehow coping with the situation by adopting various strategies. However,
in recent years, they have reached a stage where their coping mechanism
has last. The last straw that broke the back of the camel is the recent
demonetization of high demonization currencies which constitute 86
percent of the total money in circulation and the government’s failure to
remonetize the economy fully. This has affected the agricultural sector as
well as the rural economy as a whole.
Tamil Nadu has witnessed farmer’s suicide but the state did not
witness higher rate of suicides in comparison with other states like
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana. But during the recent months
there is sharp increase in the farmer’s suicide rate in Tamil Nadu. For
instance, during the last one month, the state has witnessed more than
hundred suicides. Most of the reasons discussed above are equally
2
applicable for farmer’s suicides in Tamil Nadu too. But there are some
immediate reasons which have aggravated the problem. They are absence
of Cauvery water in the delta region coupled with monsoon failure and the
resultant draught in the state as whole, ever mounting debt of the farmers,
and finally the demonetization of high denomination currencies. Thus,
except the last reason, other two reasons are not new. What is new and the
most surprising is the continued neglect of agriculture both by the union
and the state governments in spite of the fact that the reasons for these
suicides are well known. It is against this backdrop, the study has made an
attempt to examine the causes and the consequences of farmer’s suicides
in Tamil Nadu and arrived at relevant policy implications.
1.1. Agricultural Development during Green and Post- Green

Revolution Period
The Green Revolution was started to increase food production and

feed the millions of malnourished people throughout the nation during
1969s. It has been credited with increasing yields in many of the places
where the technology has been adopted, but the benefits experienced have
been unequal across regions and groups. Emphasis has been placed on
India, one of the recipients of Green Revolution technologies. Being the
second most populous country in the world, it is important to understand
how farmers are affected since they are responsible for feeding the
exceedingly large and growing population of a developing nation.
Uneven distribution among small and large farmers is apparent in

three ways: small farmers’ lack of funds to take advantage of Green
Revolution technology; insufficient information and resources available to
small farmers to effectively apply the technology; and the absence of
3
government support for small farmers. The uneven distribution of Green
Revolution technology has led to increased social disparity among classes.
A disproportionate amount of people achieved success with the modern
technology that was developed to positively affect everyone.
There are four important effects of the spatial and social disparities
caused by the Green Revolution in India. These are: the change from
traditional sustainable methods to mono cropping and unsustainable
practices; violence and dissolution of the sense of community among
farmers; the loss of many small farmers’ landholdings to large commercial
farmers; and increased suicide rates of small farmers.
1.1.1. Farming Methods Introduced by the Green Revolution

During the Green Revolution period, the new high-yielding varieties
of seeds as well as chemical fertilizers are adopted in India for the
development of rice and wheat. During that period, a large number of
farmers were used traditional seeds, as a result there was not increase high
yielding. After the introduction of HYV seeds, the majority of farmers were
used intensively for more yields. The farmers were used more fertilizers
along with HYV seeds for the more yield.
1.1.2. Change from Traditional to Unsustainable Farming Practices
Farmers were adopted more HYV seeds due to the Green Revolution
in India. They are adopted their traditional to modern methods like mono
cropping. While using mono cropping, they are growing specific crop which
is high market value and negative effects on the soil. The soil does not get
that kind of a break. In addition that, they are used mono cropping
methods need higher inputs of chemical fertilizers.
4
The Green Revolution technology was support to HYV seeds for
increasing more yields. During uses of that seeds, the application of
chemicals and fertilizers to enhance the quality of the soil as well as deter
pests and insects. The farmer are regular uses of chemical fertilizers with
intension of more production, the soil condition is total destroyed. HYV
seeds had a narrow genetic base, and the farmers were sowing all of their
fields with just one type of seed. This resulted in the displacement of
thousands of locally indigenous species as well as agricultural systems that
have been building up over generations on the basis of knowledge
accumulated over centuries (Shiva 1993). The farmers are switching over
from traditional subsistence farming to industrial mono cropping had
negative effects on small farmers. They are borrowing the more money with
high interest rates on seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, as a result they feel
over burden of debt.
1.1.3. Uneven Geographical Distribution of Green Revolution

Technology
We have composition of different topographies, climates and soil

types, or agro ecological zones. The HYV seeds and modern technology
adoption is main objective is increase the self-sufficient production. The
seed did not used with enough consistently across the different region of
country (Das 1999). Modern varieties of crops such as sorghum, millet and
barley, which grew in mainly semiarid and dry land conditions were not
widely developed until the 1980’s, and even then there was limited
availability of these seeds. The most successful and highly distributed crops
were rice, maize and wheat, which needed areas that had high rainfall or
sufficient irrigation. Of all of these, wheat was the most successful, causing
5
states in the Northwest to fare particularly well because of their irrigation
systems (Chakravarti 1973). Not only did this limit opportunities for farmers
in arid regions, it resulted in only a portion of land suitable for growth to be
utilized. This was due to the lack of irrigation facilities needed to sustain
the crops, a consequence of the lack of state involvement (Das 1999).
Farmers who are able to afford irrigation systems are having problems as
well. They must use expensive pumps to tap into groundwater reserves,
which are depleting rapidly. In some areas, groundwater levels are sinking
up to three feet per year (Zwerdling 2009). Today, farms that had begun
digging down ten feet now find themselves drilling down more than 10 feet,
requiring even more expensive equipment.
In India, the agricultural sector is totally vanished due to the farmers

involved is reduced. There is not life improvement due to uses of agricultural
sector with continues one. This is the common belief of the farmers in India.
Various factors are involving the farmer’s livelihood in the farm. Out of that,
farmer’s suicide is one of the socio and economic and political and
physiological cause in India. The past two decades, the farmer’s suicide is
major issues in the various parts of the World. In India, the farmer’s suicide
has become major issues among the policy makers and researchers
perspective. These even have been happening often from various countries
with continues manner. Even though, there is connection between
economic crisis and global market is major impact on the farmer’s
livelihood.
1.2. Background of the Research Study
Farmer suicide has turned out to be a major socio-economic concern

in India that has resulted in profound implications on the quality of life of
6
farmers. According to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable
Development (UNCSD), one farmer committed suicide every 32 minutes
between 1997 and 2005 in India. The prominent causes recognized for
farmers’ suicides were bankruptcy or indebtedness (20.6 percent), 'family
problems' (20.1 percent), failure of crops (16.8 percent), illness (13.2
percent) and drug abuse/alcoholic addiction (4.9 percent) (National Crime
Records Bureau, 2015).
Farmers feel a repeated sense of hopelessness due to the loss of crops,

income, land and even the loss of a way of life. Another factor that increases
suicides is the potential for social isolation due to reasons like the loss of
communities as well as geographical remoteness. The lack of access to
mental health services in rural areas and the stigma attached to treatment
is also a contributing factor. Depression arising from exposure to
agricultural chemicals/pesticides may increase the risk for mood disorders
and ultimately suicide.
The Situation Assessment Surveys of the National Sample Survey

Organization (NSSO, 2013) has reconfirmed the worsening situation of farm
households which indicated that about 51.9 percent of the farm households
in India are indebted. Indebtedness is highest in Andre Pradesh (93
percent), followed by Telangana (89 percent), Tamil Nadu (82 percent),
Karnataka (77 percent) and Rajasthan (62 percent) (Table 1). It is to note
that NSSO in its 59th round survey has revealed that given the choice, 40
percent farmers will quit farming because it is not profitable, risky and it
lacks social status (NSSO, 2005). Interestingly, indebted farmers have taken
higher credit from institutional sources (60 percent) as compared to the
non-institutional sources (40 percent) (NSSO, 2013).
7
The Intelligence Bureau in its report to the Modi government had said
that there is an upward trend in the number of farmers resorting to the
extreme measure of suicide in states like Maharashtra, Telangana,
Karnataka and Punjab. The report also stated that the main reason for
incidences like these was due to both natural and manmade factors: "While
natural factors like uneven rains, hailstorms, droughts and floods adversely
affect crop yield, manmade factors such as pricing policies and inadequate
marketing facilities result in post-yield losses."(Government of India, 2014).
The following five states together accounted for 89.5 percent of the total
farmer suicides (5,056 out of 5,650) reported in the country in the year 2014
(National Crime Records Bureau, 2015).
Table 1 1: Number of Suicides and Indebtedness in Major Suicide States of

India
State Number of Percent of Farmers Percent of Indebted
Suicides in 2014 Suicides to all India Farm HH to Total
Total in 2014 Farm HH 2012-13
Maharashtra 2,568 45.5 57.3
Telangana 898 15.9 89.1
Madhya Pradesh 826 14.6 45.7
Chhattisgarh 443 7.8 37.2
Karnataka 321 5.7 77.3
Total 5056 89.5 51.9
Source: National Bureau of Crime Records, India, 2014
In addition, according to the report, the land holding status of the

farmers who committed suicide revealed that 44.5 percent and 27.9 percent
of victims were small farmers and marginal farmers, respectively and that,
together, they accounted for 72.4 percent (4,095 out of 5,650) of total farmer
suicides. The report further reveals that 53.1 percent and 14.5 percent of
small farmers who committed suicides were reported in Maharashtra (1,135
out of 2,516) and Telangana (366 out of 2,516) respectively during 2014.
Among marginal farmers, 39.7 percent and 25.5 percent respectively of
8
farmers’ suicides were reported in Maharashtra (627 out of 1,579) and
Madhya Pradesh (403 out of 1,579) (National Crime Records Bureau, 2015).
Constant financial stress and pressure related to ongoing drought

and flood conditions and the loss of independence add to the farmer's
economic problems; as many of the issues such as disease, weather,
government policy, etc. are not within the farmer’s control. The debts,
however, are personal and need to be repaid. While the prices of crops have
been pushed down (often even below the cost of production), the prices of
inputs such as seed, fertilizers and pesticides have gone up. With limited
resources, farmers depend on borrowed money to purchase seeds and other
inputs and to farm their land and a reduction in their income could
promptly lead to farmers owing more than they own.
Years of economic reforms have given farmers access to expensive

and promising technological options; but these reforms have not led to crop
insurance, land irrigation, or enough bank loans. These reforms have
rendered Indian farmers open to global competition and in order to compete,
they were forced to turn to high-cost seeds, fertilizers and pesticides;
believing in easier returns. Modified seeds cost nearly twice as much as
ordinary ones, necessitating larger loans. Unfortunately for farmers in
India, foreign subsidies (such as the United States and the United Kingdom
who receive over $18 billion a year in subsidies) have driven down the price
of crops (such as cotton) in the global market. In addition, there has been
minimal financial support from the government for marginal and small
farmers. Many of these farmers don’t qualify for bank credit, forcing them
to turn to moneylenders who charge up to 20 to 36 percent interest on them.
Consequently, farmers often sign away the title to their land as collateral.
9
Concerned with the agrarian crisis and farmers’ suicides in suicide
prone states of India, the Prime Minister on July 1, 2006, announced a
rehabilitation package with the goal of mitigating the distress driven
condition of farmers. The rehabilitation package aimed at establishing a
sustainable and viable farming and livelihood support system through debt
relief measures to farmers such as complete institutional credit coverage,
crop centric approach to agriculture, assured irrigation facilities, effective
watershed management, better extension and farming support services and
subsidiary income opportunities through horticulture, livestock, dairying,
fisheries and other subsidiary activities. In order to alleviate the hardships
faced by the debt driven families of farmers, ex-gratia assistance from Prime
Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) 50 lakh per district was also
provided. Some other programs to increase of flow of agricultural credit
includes Kisan Credit Cards (KCC), revival package for short term
cooperative credit structure, concessional interest schemes, interest
subvention schemes, interest subvention against negotiable warehouse
receipt and so on. All these attempts have helped to reduce farmers' suicides
insignificantly overtime in several states. However, farmers' suicides still
remain major challenge in India.
1.3. Theoretical Literature Review
Most studies on suicides fail to look at the phenomena from an

interdisciplinary perspective. Emile Durkheim (1896) a sociologist
highlighted that suicide rates are dependent upon the degree to which
individuals were integrated into society and the degree to which society
regulates individual behaviour. He mentioned that in the modern society
there are 2 major types of suicides :(i) Increasing detachment from others
resulting to egoistical suicide. The unmarried and childless are less
10
integrated and hence susceptible to a higher suicide rate and (ii)
Dissatisfaction in relation to expectations resulting in anomic suicide. In
times of price crash of crops, there is more probability of suicides if the
farmers’ price expectations are not met. (Lester, 1994 cited in Deshpande
and Saroj Arora, 2010). Taking into account Durkheim's types, Mohanty
in his article views farmer suicides as having resulted from a combination
of ecological, economic and social crisis. He goes to say that it points to the
modern agricultural practice, which has become an independent,
household or family enterprise, without requiring any link and interaction
among the cultivators themselves (Mohanty, 2013).
Another way of analyzing the causes of suicides requires

understanding the culmination of four factors namely, Events, Stressors,
Actors and Triggers. This categorization stems from the mental set up of
victims (Deshpande, 2002). The events such as crop loss, bore-well failure,
price crash, family problems, property disputes and daughter's marriage
act as stress creators, when two or more events cluster together. Usually
illness of the individual or any family members, heavy borrowing,
continued disputes in the family or land related problems act as stressors'.
These become lethal in combination with the events, but further ignition
comes through the actors and triggers incidence. Given this complex
nature of the phenomena, it is certainly difficult to pinpoint one particular
reason for the suicide (Deshpande, 2002).
The paper by Gupta aptly observes that "Indian agriculture has

always lurched from crisis to crisis. If the monsoons are good then there
are floods, if they are bad there are droughts, if the production of mangoes
is excellent then there is a glut and prices fall, if the onion crops fail then
that too brings tears. The artisanal nature of agriculture has always kept
11
farmers on tenterhooks, not knowing quite how to manage their economy,
except to play it by year" thus shedding a light on the plight of the Indian
farmer (Gupta, 2005). The study on farmers’ suicides is a problem of the
type that is theoretical and interpretative in nature. Although there is an
availability of empirical data, due to a lack of sufficient understanding of
the trends and complex patterns, there exists a deficiency in establishing
interrelationships (Kaviraj, 1984).
In her book, Shadow Spaces, Vasavi states that bewilderment, loss of

meaning and uncertainty among farmers due to the unrelenting failures of
policies and responses are doubtful to change unless there is a paradigm
shift in the general outlook that starts with trusting agriculturists'
knowledge and working towards those elements that enhance their
capacities for collective action (Vasavi, 2012).
In summary, while all current reports ascertain that widespread and

soaring indebtedness among farmers is considered by most of the families
to be the key reason for the suffering experienced by the victims leading to
their suicide, the social bases of such indebtedness and its implications
have not yet been recognized.
1.4. Empirical Literature Review
Anneshi and Gowda (2015) concluded that both small and large
farmers borrowed relatively higher proportion from the non-institutional
sources compare to institutional sources and accessibility to institutional
borrowing is relatively more for large farmers. Similarly, both small and
large farmers owed more outstanding debt to non-institutional sources, as
compared to institutional sources in SC/ST category.
12
Macharia (2015) investigated that majority of small and marginal
peasants depend on non-institutional credit facilities (i.e. moneylenders,
micro financers and traders). He also reported that farmer’s suicides take
place among the scheduled castes and tribe families who cultivate
commercial crops. Low yields, extremely reduced profits and mounting
debts make their agricultural life extremely difficult.
Chikkara and Kodan (2014) opined that the informal mechanism of

credit delivery played an important role for marginal and small farmers in
meeting their credit requirements in the State of Haryana. In addition,
maximum indebtedness was found to be on the 615-775 MPCE class farm
households in the State and Scheduled Caste and Backward Class farm
households.
Kanthi (2014) in his study on economics of agriculture and farmers’

suicides in Warangal District in Andhra Pradesh reported that the
contributory factors for farmers suicides in Andhra Pradesh as farmers
indebtedness, crop loss and failure and risk factor, input (seed, fertilisers,
pesticides, irrigation, credit) related problems, inadequate institutional
finance, failure of agricultural extension system lack of storage and
marketing facilities, lack of remunerative prices and absence of agricultural
insurance.
Mohanty (2014) in a study conducted in Amravati and Yavatmal

district argued that crop loss and egoistic factors led to suicidal tendency
among small farmers. On the contrary, the suicides of large and medium
farmers who belong to higher castes were attributed mainly to the anomic
forces generated by failure in business, trade and politics. The socio-
cultural factors such as old age, illness, family tension, etc, further added
13
their urge to take their own lives. They concluded that the suicides of
farmers are neither properly anomic nor egoistic rather they are ego-
anomic in nature.
Singh et al., (2014) based on the research in Punjab studied that the
level of education, non-farm income, farm size and non-institutional credit
were the main factors which affect the level of farmers’ indebtedness. They
also found that the farmers face a large number of problems in availing
institutional credit which drives them to fall into the debt trap of the crafty
and exploitative non-institutional sources of credit.
Kumar et al., (2010) examined the performance of agricultural credit

flow and has identified the determinants of increased use of institutional
credit at the farm household level in India. The result indicated that the
quantum of institutional credit availed by the farming households is
affected by a number of socio-demographic factors which include
education, farm size, family size, caste, gender, occupation of household,
etc.
Another study by Behere and Behere (2008) reported that various

factors like chronic indebtedness and the accumulation of inability to pay
interest over years and economic decline grain drain and the rising costs
of agricultural inputs and falling prices of agricultural produce lead to
complications and family disputes, depression and alcoholism etc, and
eventually are responsible for suicides among the farmers. It was also seen
that compensation following suicide helped the family to repay debt. They
also opined that the causes are multifactorial, cumulative, repetitive and
progressive, leading an individual to a state of helplessness, worthlessness
14
and hopelessness, obviously influenced by his social strengths and
weaknesses along with his mental health status.
According to Meeta and Rajivlochan (2006) some of the problems

common among the victims of suicide were (a) hopelessness in being
unable to resolve the dilemmas of personal life and an inability to find
funds for various activities or repay loans; (b) the absence of any person,
group, or institution to whom to turn to in order to seek reliable advice -
whether for agricultural operations or for seeking funds or for handling
private and personal issues; (c) little knowledge about institutional
mechanisms like the Minimum Support Price (MSP) that would affect
marketing, technical knowledge and no reliable sources from where such
knowledge and advice could be accessed; and (d) chronic alcoholism and
drug abuse among the rural population.
Mohanty and Shroff (2004) in their research revealed that though

crop losses, indebtedness and market imperfections cause economic
hardship to farmers; social factors are also at work which lead in some
cases to their suicides. The paper by Sarah Hebous and Stefan Klonner
empirically analyzes the various sources of extreme economic distress in
rural India by using district-level data on farmers’ suicides to estimate the
effects of transitory economic shocks and structural change in agriculture
on the incidence of suicides in farm households. Rainfall conditions are
used as an instrumental variable and it was found that transitory spikes
in poverty caused by a lack of rainfall increase suicides among male and
decrease suicides among female members of farm households. However,
the paper concludes that the combined causal effect of a poverty shock on
suicides in farm households is positive. Also, a shift from subsistence crops
15
to cash crops, especially cotton, was found to be associated with a decrease
in male suicides (Hebous and Klonner, 2014).
1.5. Objectives of the Study
The study addresses following specific objectives:
 To analyse the incidence and spread of farmer suicides in Tamil Nadu

and to map the hot-spots of suicide;
 To study the socio-economic profile, cropping pattern and profitability

of victim farm households in Tamil Nadu.
 To study the causes leading to farmers’ suicides including production

and market risks, sociological, psychological and other family related
factors responsible for farmer suicides.
 To recommend suitable policies to alleviate the incidence of farmers’

suicides.
1.6. Methodology and Data Base
The study considers both primary and secondary data. If 10

percent of the cumulative suicides for a period of five years starting from
2011-12 up to 2015-16 (National Crime Records Bureau as per calendar
year) falls below 50, then those states was not be included in the study. By
following this criteria, 15 states was included for the study. However,
another three states namely, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Punjab will also be
included for the study as per the directions of Ministry of Agriculture. Thus
the study would be conducted in 18 states of India. Primary data shall be
collected from 50 victim farm households from the states having the
cumulative suicides (2011-12 to 2015-16) more than 50 and 30 victim
households from the states where the cumulative suicides (2011-12 to
2015-16) is less than 50 as shown.
16
Table 1.2: Sample size of Victim in Tamil Nadu
Name of Name of Selected Name of Village No. of Victims’
Selected District Taluk/ Block Families
Interviewed
Ariyalur Ariyalur Orathur 1
Nagapattinam Kilvelur Erukkai, Paranginallur 2
Siggal Themangalam 1
Thirukovalai Neermulai 1
Vedaranyam Athanaur 1
Thanjavur Kumbakonam Koothankudi 1
Madukkur Vikkaramam 1
Thanjavur Kasanadupudur 1
Thiruvaiyaru Kilthirupanthurithi, 2
Kulimathur
Pattukottai Ponnavarayan Kottai 1
Pabanasam Andakudi 1
Thiruvarur Kudavasal Pungavur, Musiriyam 2
Koradacherry Pathur, Vellamadhu 2
Mannarkudi Pallivaruthi, 3
Athissapuram,
Thirukalur
Nannilam Kalluthumedu 1
Needamangalam Oraseri 1
Valangaiman Sithanvalur 1
Thiruthuraipoondi Regunathapuram 1
Pudukottai Avudaiyarkoil valathakadu 1
Aranthangi Kilkudi, Nagudi, 2
Keeranur Naripatti 1
Kottaipattinam Karakathikottai 1
Pudukottai Karakathikottai 1
Total Sample Size 30
Note: In total row we should also give total no. of districts, taluks / blocks and villages covered for
the survey
The primary data on victim households were collected from the top 2
to 5 districts for the current agricultural year 2015-16 (Kharif 2015 and
Rabi 2016: Two seasons). If the requisite number of victim households is
not available in the current agricultural year (2015-16), then in such
situation, the victim households of agriculture year 2014-15 were
considered for the primary survey. In total, 30 victim households were
surveyed. Secondary information were collected from National Crime
Records Bureau, Government Reports and Tamil Nadu Seasonal Crop
Report, Department of Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu.
17
Primary data has been collected from five districts namely Ariyalur,
Thanjavour, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukottia of Tamil Nadu. The
chosen of five districts for the present study are highest victim households
in recent years. In each of the districts of Ariyalur, Thanjavor, Thiruvarur,
Nagapattinam and Pudukottai, totally twenty three representative blocks
are taken for collection of primary data. In each block, the victim
households has been chosen based on incidence happen and stratified
according to four land size groups such as marginal (less than 1 hectare),
small (1 to 2 hectares), medium (2 to 4 hectares) and large (more than 4
hectares). In five districts, Tiruvarur district recorded highest suicides of 11
cases, followed by Thanjavur (7 cases), Pudokottai (6 cases), Nagapattinam
(5 cases) and Ariyalur (1 case) has been collected primary survey.
In order to fulfil the first objective of the study, descriptive statistics,

CGRs and correlation were used secondary information. To fulfil the
remaining objectives, descriptive statistics, suitable quantitative and
qualitative response models, ranking techniques (opinion survey), and
social autopsy method were applied. In addition to this, among the selected
districts, 5 case studies representing marginal and small (3), medium (1)
and large farmers (1) were analyzed.
1.7. Organization of the Research Study
The present study is divided into five chapters. The first chapter is of
introductory nature; it contains the background, objectives, data base and
methodology of the study. The second chapter describes the growth trends
of farmer’s suicide scenario in Tamil Nadu. The third chapter analyses the
socio-economic profile of victim households in the study area of Tamil Nadu.
The results of the study was provide useful insights to understand on socio-
18
economic profile of victim households. The fourth chapter examines the
causes and after effect of suicide based on primary survey in Tamil Nadu
Further the findings on causes of farmers' suicides in general and
specifically due to indebtedness from institutional and non-institutional
sources, suggestions to prevent farmers’ suicides and coping strategies after
suicide incident was help the policy makers in framing policies and
programmes to prevent farmers ‘suicides. And the last chapter provides
concluding remarks and policy suggestions from the study.
19
Chapter II
Farmers Suicide Scenario in Tamil Nadu
2.1 Introduction
Suicide is one of the epidemiological problems in the world. There

are 8 lakh people are die because of suicide in the World during 2012. It
accounts for 1.4 percent of all deaths in the world. Some of the factors
like social, psychological, cultural and other factors are very determining
factors stimulate suicidal behaviour. About 75 percent of global suicide is
happening in low and middle income countries in 2012. The annual global
age suicide rate is 11.4 per 1 lakh population (15 for males and 8 for
females). In rich countries, three times as many men die than women. It
account for 50 percent of all violent deaths in men and 71 percent in
women. With regard to age, suicide rates are highest in persons aged 70
years or over for both men and women in almost all regions of the world.
In some countries, suicide rates are highest among the young, and
globally suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds
(World Health Organization, 2015).
Out of the various suicide, farmers’ suicide is one most incidence

happen in the world, particularly, in India, farmers suicide is most
important issues. The main issues are not given high priority to the
agricultural sector by planning process. This sector has not given
importance from first five year plan. During second five year plan, the
industrial sector growth was main objective. Even though, green
revolution was developed and it was increasing productivity. However,
this revolution did not sustain and leads to declining agricultural growth
20
and the share of GDP in agricultural sector is declined due to population
growth.
After the Green Revolution emerged, our agricultural growth was

stagnated until 1990s. The introduction of economic reforms period,
there is financial depression and devolution of money and foreign
exchange rate drastically declined. It was affected not only in agricultural
sector, but also in economic growth of a country as a whole. Thereafter,
it was changed the economic conditions due to open market of
International Monetary Fund in India. Therefore, this leads to
globalization, liberalization and privatization of our economy.
After the new economic policy boom, the industrial and service
sector is given priority instead of that of agricultural sector. The both
sectoral development is increasing drastically with declining share of GDP
in the agricultural sector. The rural infrastructural development is given
more important for rural development than agricultural sector. The
urban people conditions are improved than rural farmer livelihood. The
share of public investment in agricultural sector is declined all most all
those states in India. This sector is neglected only in recent days. Even
though, there is no change in the life of the farmers’ livelihood after the
new economic policy reforms. The corporate and industrial sectoral
development are increased with big size whereas, the agricultural sector
is declined, the land holdings of the country and cultivable land size
declined due to government policy. The living conditions of the farmers
have not changed despite the country’s economic growth. Economic
misery caused by several reasons, made the farmers forsake their hope
for better life. All these problems eventually propelled agrarian distress in
21
the country and the present epidemic of farmers' suicide is the outburst
of such distress. Farmer's suicides are not a phenomenon by itself; rather
it is an extreme manifestation of the underlying agrarian crisis prevailing
within the country for a long period of time.
A large majority of the farmers are small farmers in the world. The
farming system is delinked from the earth, the soil, the biodiversity, the
climatic change and linked to global corporations and global markets. In
recent years, due to global economic system, is totally destroyed the small
farmers. Farmer’s suicides are the most terrible events in the Indian
peasant’s history. In 1997, first incidence of farmer’s suicide was
happening in Indian soil. The main reasons behind it is increase in
indebtedness, falling price of agricultural commodities, mount amount of
cost of cultivation, crop loss, monsoon failure, seed monopoly are major
challenging factors for increasing farmers suicides in India.
The World Bank’s structural adjustment polices was implemented in

India during 1998. After this scheme, seed sector is enlarged to global
corporations like Cargill, Monsanto and Syh genta. The corporate sector is
changed their input policy of seed sector in India. The farmers are save
their own seed for future cultivations. The system is changed by corporate
seeds by the multinational companies. The traditional way of seed creation
is totally destroyed by those companies instead of that corporate companies
got patents and generating seeds with one time basis. The seed saving habit
among the farmers was transformed due to the global pressures. The seed
selling is one of the big businesses in India with huge profit making one and
multinational seed corporations started to take control of the seed supply.
The seed saved habit is changed from traditional method to corporate
22
monopolies of the seed supply. As results, the farmers are forced to buying
the seed with need based every year. This kind of instances is down their
life into poverty and leads to increase in debt among the farming
community. The debt payment is increase and it could not repayable by the
farmers. This incidence is creates the farmers suicides in India. The
monocultures practices are increasing the risks of crop failures in India.
The corporate seed companies are not selling quality seeds to the farmers
with reasonable price.
Another reasons is falling in prices of agricultural produce, as a result

of free trade polices of WTO. The WTO agreement is established dumping
rules and regulations for trade in agricultural sector. The trade agreement
is allowed to increase in agribusiness subsides. But they are preventing
from protecting of their own countries farmers. They have creating dumping
of artificially cheap produce of agricultural commodities. The half rate price
reduction is not due to doubling in production, but due to an increase in
subsidies and an increase in market monopolies controlled by agribusiness
corporations.
In India, the low prices of agricultural commodities are traded in

global open market declining income of poor farmers. There is impact of
farmer’s prices on global market, the farmers are losing their money. It will
affect the burden of poverty is increasing over a period of time. The total
farming community is affected the rules and regulations of WTO agreement
and therefore, Government of India is raised the questions against the
unfair rules of WTO in agriculture in the G-22 conference. India addressed
the need to safeguard the farmer’s livelihood due to injustice of free trade
based on high subsidies and dumping.
23
2.2. Incidence of Farmers’ Suicide in India
In the World, the suicides were begun four decades back in

industrialized countries and it was begun during last decade in India. At
presently, we stand fourth in suicide rate in the World. The suicide rate is
increased in India over period of time due to modernization of the cultural
and social attitude, and physical and psychological behaviour of the people.
The incidence of suicides was increased from 40, 000 in 1967 to 1, 35,445
in 2014. It accounts for three fold size increased over the six decades. When
look at the gender-wise suicide rate among male and females, the male rate
is increased from 59 percent (52,357) in 1995 to 65 percent (88,453) in 2012
and female rate is decline from 41 percent (36,821) to 35 percent (46,992)
in 2012. But in real terms, the female rate also increased. In India, the
farmer’s suicide was happened on 12th December, 1997 and Mr. Shivaraj
Mainalle of Siddeshwar village in Bidar district committed suicide (National
Crime Record Bureau, New Delhi, 2014).
The total suicide case of India is 23, 19, 265, out of that, about
3,09, 426 farmers have committed to suicide during two decades. The
percentage share of farmer’s suicide in total suicide rate is 13.35 percent
during the same period. According to India’s National Crime Records
Bureau (NCRB) reported total suicide rate is increased from 89,178 in
1995 to 1,31,666 in 2014. Out of which, farmers suicide is increased
from 10,720 to 12,360 in the same period. The percentage share of
farmer’s suicide in the total suicide is decline from 12 percent to 9.4
percent and on the other hand, in real terms it is increased. When
compare male with female farmers, male farmers are predominately 77.4
percent to 87 percent in the same period. But for female farmers is decline
24
trend from 23 percent to 13 percent. The female rate is declined due to
the emotional bounding. The reported noted that 131,666 people
committed suicide and 9.4 percent of them are farmers (12,360) in India.
It is noted that the social and economic status of the farmers, cultural,
environmental and other external factors are determining to stimulating
commit the suicide. Even though, government and civil society is involved
to solve this issue, but the farmers suicide is not reduced.
Table 2.1: Incidence of Farmers’ Suicide in India: 1995 to 2014

Year Males Females Total farmer All Males Females Farmers
suicides Suicides Percent Percent suicide
percent in
total
1995 8295 2425 10,720 89178 77.4 22.6 12.0
1996 10897 2832 13,729 88241 79.4 20.6 15.6
1997 11229 2393 13,622 95829 82.4 17.6 14.2
1998 12986 3029 16,015 104713 81.1 18.9 15.3
1999 13278 2804 16,082 110587 82.6 17.4 14.5
2000 13501 3102 16,603 108593 81.3 18.7 15.3
2001 13829 2586 16,415 108506 84.2 15.8 15.1
2002 15308 2663 17,971 110417 85.2 14.8 16.3
2003 14680 2484 17,164 110579 85.5 14.5 15.5
2004 15929 2312 18,241 113697 87.3 12.7 16.0
2005 14973 2158 17,131 113914 87.4 12.6 15.0
2006 14664 2396 17,060 118112 86.0 14.0 14.4
2007 14509 2123 16,632 122637 87.2 12.8 13.6
2008 14145 2651 16,796 125017 84.2 15.8 13.4
2009 14951 2417 17,368 127151 86.1 13.9 13.7
2010 13592 2372 15,964 134599 85.1 14.9 11.9
2011 12071 1956 14,027 135585 86.1 13.9 10.3
2012 11951 1803 13,754 135445 86.9 13.1 10.2
2013 11,772 134799 8.7
2014 12,360 131666 9.4
Source: National Crime Record Bureau, New Delhi
A great number of those affected are cash crop farmers and cotton
farmers in particular. In 2014 alone, the most recent year for which
official figures are available, 12,260 farmers committed suicide, which one
25
farmer every 30 minutes. While striking on their own, these figures
considerably underestimate the actual number of farmer suicides taking
place.
These farmers and their families are among the victims of India’s
longstanding agrarian crisis. Economic reforms and the opening of Indian
agriculture to the global market over the past two decades have increased
costs, while reducing yields and profits for many farmers, to the point of
great financial and emotional distress. As a result, smallholder farmers
are often trapped in a cycle of debt. During a bad year, money from the
sale of the cotton crop might not cover even the initial cost of the inputs,
let alone suffice to pay the usurious interest on loans or provide adequate
food or necessities for the family. Often the only way out is to take on
more loans and buy more inputs, which in turn can lead to even greater
debt. Indebtedness is a major and proximate cause of farmer suicides in
India. Many farmers, ironically, take their lives by ingesting the very
pesticide they went into debt to purchase.
The crisis has been building for years; it presents an increasing

political challenge to the government. The main reasons for the high
suicide rate in India is because of economic reforms have opened to global
competition and biotechnology. But not opened the way to higher prices,
bank loans, irrigation or insurance against pests and rain. American
multinational companies are selling costly, genetically modified seeds.
They have made business in rural mass and as results new risks as Indian
farmers faced due to debt. On the other hand, subsidies for agriculture
are reduced the present government. Our farmers are competing with
26
global market. They have faced the problems like high-cost seeds,
fertilizers and pesticides.
The government is reducing farmer’s subsidies as per the norms of

WTO and GATTs and economic policy reforms. The policy changes are
totally affecting the farmers in terms of cost of seeds, fertilizers, insecticides
and pesticides. The cost of cultivation is increase mount amount but the
selling prices of agricultural commodities are not increased. The
Government of India also notice minimum support price for certain
commodities. Sometimes farmers are not able to recover the cost price of
products produced by them and they incurred heavy losses. And due to the
same they are not able to return high interest loan taken by them from
private money lenders and banks. In addition to this they fail to handle their
family responsibilities like education, marriages and health security of their
family members. These failures frustrate them and force them to turn
towards suicides.
The distribution of farmers’ suicide by causes in India during 2014

is presented in Table 2.2. Among various causes, indebtedness is one of the
serious causes and foremost causes in India. Bankruptcy or Indebtedness
and ‘Family Problems are major causes of suicides, accounting for 20.6
percent and 20.1 percent respectively of total farmers’ suicides in India
during 2014. The other prominent causes of farmers’ suicides were failure
of crop (17 percent), illness (13.2 percent) and drug abuse/alcoholic
addiction (5 percent).
27
Table 2.2: Distribution of Farmers’ Suicide by Causes in India: 2014
Details Reasons for Suicide Percentage
Poverty 149 2.6
Property Dispute 52 0.9
Marriage related issues 121 2.1
Non-settlement of marriage 25 0.4
Dowry issues 42 0.7
Extra marital affairs 5 0.1
Divorce 7 0.1
Others 42 0.7
Family problems 1135 20.1
Farming issues 969 17.2
Failure of crops (Total) 952 16.8
Due to natural calamities 491 8.7
due to other reasons 461 8.2
inability to sell 17 0.3
Illness (Total) 745 13.2
Bankruptcy or indebtedness (Total) 1163 20.6
due to crop loan 965 17.1
due to farm equipment loan 22 0.4
due to non-agricultural loan 176 3.1
causes not known 231 4.1
other causes 828 14.7
Total 5650 100.0
Source: National Crime Record Bureau, New Delhi, Note: family problems include marriage related issues
28
Table 2.3: State-wise Number of Suicides (Self-Employed (Farming/ Agriculture) in India: 2000-2014
Name of the 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 FS201
State 4
Andhra 1525 1509 1896 1800 2666 2490 2607 1797 2105 2414 2525 2206 2572 2014 160
Pradesh
Telangana 1347 898
Assam 126 167 271 187 331 299 322 278 197 341 369 312 344 305 59 21
Bihar 32 61 80 46 23 39 46 86 67 112 95 83 68 127 10 0
Jharkhand 27 21 21 21 124 103 113 71 164 173 94 119 142 4 0
Gujarat 661 594 570 581 523 615 487 317 526 588 523 578 564 582 600 45
Haryana 238 145 190 207 160 140 190 179 150 230 297 384 276 374 119 14
Himachal 35 22 25 34 52 20 22 15 188 24 61 46 29 33 63 32
Pradesh
Jammu & 38 15 16 8 1 2 34 33 6 8 18 14 10 18 37 12
Kashmir
Karnataka 2630 2505 2340 2678 1963 1883 1720 2135 1737 2282 2585 2100 1875 1403 768 321
Kerala 1295 1035 1533 1583 903 1118 1124 1232 820 896 895 830 1081 972 807 107
Madhya 2660 1372 1340 1445 1638 1248 1375 1263 1379 1395 1237 1326 1172 1090 1198 823
Pradesh
Chhattisgar 1452 1238 1066 1395 1412 1483 1593 1773 1802 1126 0 4 0 755 443
h
Maharashtr 3022 3536 3695 3836 4147 3926 4453 4238 3802 2872 3141 3337 3786 3146 4004 2568
a
Orissa 199 256 345 365 379 254 283 240 260 154 162 144 146 150 102 5
Punjab 73 45 40 26 74 47 85 88 66 97 80 98 75 83 64 24
Rajasthan 736 505 587 636 749 461 395 618 796 851 390 268 270 292 373 0
Tamil Nadu 882 985 1455 1052 1599 1255 426 484 512 1060 541 623 499 105 895 68
Uttar 735 688 525 387 496 522 411 486 745 656 548 645 745 750 192 63
Pradesh
Uttarkhand 21 34 41 22 24 51 28 28 30 39 25 14 15 0 0
West Bengal 1377 1246 1518 1036 822 965 1189 1102 759 1054 993 807 0 0 230 0
Other States 54 98 101 72 107 112 57 54 141 145 135 84 78 143 77 30
UTs 285 131 151 57 170 175 197 253 68 193 31 23 27 28 24 8
India 1660 1641 1797 1716 1824 1713 1706 1663 1619 1736 1596 1207 1375 1177 1236 5642
3 5 1 4 1 1 0 2 6 8 4 1 4 2 0
Source: Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (various Issues), New Delhi: NCRB, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
29
Table 2.4: Number of Farmers’ Suicides (Self-employed (Farming/
Agriculture) in India
State 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Total Average no.
of suicides
Andhra Pradesh 2525 2206 2572 2014 632 9949 1990
Telangana 0 0 0 0 1347 1347 269
Assam 369 312 344 305 59 1389 278
Bihar 95 83 68 127 10 383 77
Jharkhand 173 94 119 142 4 532 106
Gujarat 523 578 564 582 600 2847 569
Haryana 297 384 276 374 119 1450 290
Himachal Pradesh 61 46 29 33 63 232 46
Jammu & Kashmir 18 14 10 18 37 97 19
Karnataka 2585 2100 1875 1403 768 8731 1746
Kerala 895 830 1081 972 807 4585 917
Madhya Pradesh 1237 1326 1172 1090 1198 6023 1205
Chhattisgarh 1126 0 4 0 755 1885 377
Maharashtra 3141 3337 3786 3146 4004 17414 3483
Orissa 162 144 146 150 102 704 141
Punjab 80 98 75 83 64 400 80
Rajasthan 390 268 270 292 373 1593 319
Tamil Nadu 541 623 499 105 895 2663 533
Uttar Pradesh 548 645 745 750 192 2880 576
Uttarkhand 39 25 14 15 0 93 19
West Bengal 993 807 0 0 230 2030 406
Other States 135 84 78 143 77 517 103
Total 15933 14004 13727 11744 12336 67744 13549
Source: Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (various Issues), NCRB, Ministry of Home Affairs,
Govt. of India
30
Table 2.5: State-wise Incidence of Farmers Suicide in India: 2001-2014
States 2001 2012 2014 2001 2012 2014
(in Numbers) in Percent
Andre Pradesh 1509 2572 160 9.2 18.7 2.8
Arunachal Pradesh - 11 - - 0.1 -
Assam 167 344 21 1.0 2.5 0.4
Bihar 88 68 - 0.5 0.5 -
Chhattisgarh - 4 443 - - 7.8
Goa 18 1 - 0.1 - -
Gujarat 594 564 45 3.6 4.1 0.8
Haryana 145 276 14 0.9 2.0 0.2
Himachal Pradesh 22 29 32 0.1 0.2 0.6
Jammu & Kashmir 15 10 12 0.1 0.1 0.2
Jharkhand - 119 - - 0.9 -
Karnataka 2505 1875 321 15.3 13.6 5.7
Kerala 1035 1081 107 6.3 7.9 1.9
Madhya Pradesh 1372 1172 826 8.4 8.5 14.6
Maharashtra 3536 3786 2568 21.5 27.5 45.5
Manipur - - - - - -
Meghalaya - 10 - - 0.1 -
Mizoram - 10 - - 0.1 -
Nagaland - - - - - -
Odisha 256 146 5 1.6 1.1 0.1
Punjab 45 75 24 0.3 0.5 0.4
Rajasthan 505 270 - 3.1 2.0 -
Sikkim 0 19 35 0.0 0.1 0.6
Tamil Nadu 985 499 68 6.0 3.6 1.2
Telengana - - 898 - - 15.9
Tripura 41 18 - 0.2 0.1 -
Uttar Pradesh 709 745 63 4.3 5.4 1.1
Uttarakhand - 14 - - 0.1 -
West Bengal 1246 - - 7.6 - -
Total States 14793 13718 5642 90.1 99.7 99.9
Union Territories
A and N Islands - - 8 - - 0.1
Chandigarh - - - - - -
D and N Haveli - - - - - -
Daman and Diu - - - - - -
Delhi - - - - - -
Lakshadweep - - - - - -
Pondicherry 91 - - 0.6 -
Total Union Territories 91 - 8 0.6 - 0.1
Total All India 16415 13754 5650 100 100 100
The State/Union Territories on the incidents of farmers’ suicides are

presented in Table 2.5. During 2014, about 5,650 farmers are committed
suicides. The percentage share of farmer’s suicide in total is 4.3 percent.
Among the different states, Maharashtra is occupying top rank in the farmer
31
suicide during two decades. The state has reduced the incidence from
3,536 in 2001 to 2,568 in 2014. The state having highest percentage of
incidence is 45.5 percent of the total farmer’s suicide in India. The state is
having reduced the farmer’s suicide nearly 968 during two decades due the
government policy measures and sugar cane farmer’s problem solved.
Telangana accounts for 898 of suicides and 826 suicides in Madhya
Pradesh, accounting for 16 percent and 14.6 percent respectively of total
farmer suicides. Chhattisgarh (443 suicides) and Karnataka (321 suicides)
accounted for 7.8 percent and 5.7 percent respectively. These 5 States
together accounted for 89.5 percent of the total farmer suicides (5,056 out
of 5,650) reported in the country during 2014.
During 2001, the states like Maharashtra are the largest number of
suicides (3,536), followed by Karnataka (2,505), Andhra Pradesh (1,509),
Madhya Pradesh (1,372), Kerala (1,035) and West Bengal (1,246). These
states were in the top six states in the country. The six worst affected states
such as Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh,
Kerala and West Bengal account for two-thirds of all such suicides.
Together, they saw 11,026 suicides in 2001. It accounts for 68.25 percent.
In Kerala, it is the most developed in India and it has the highest male
suicide rate in India. Areas such as Gujarat where cash crops are mainly
cultivated on large-scale farms have low suicide rates. This is because
wealthy cash crop farmers have the resources to weather difficult economic
periods, without falling into debt and ruin. Another outlier is West Bengal
which has high numbers of smallholders but an average suicide rate. But
this was because the CPM - who has an "unrivalled commitment" to
improving the condition of poor farmers - had a strong political influence
over the past four decades, they said.
The incidence of indebtedness among the Indian cultivators was very

high of 46 percent with asst-debt ratio is 2.5. Some of the alarming states
32
in the case of indebtedness like Telangana (74 percent), Maharashtra (56
percent) and Karnataka (55 percent), respectively. A majority of the farmers
are faced the problem of debt due to crop failure, feel helpless and look for
relief (Debt and Investment Survey 2013, 70th Round of NSSO). It is found
that suicide rates tend to be higher in states with greater economic
disparity. But inequality as a predictor of suicide rates paled in comparison
with cash crops and marginalized, indebted farmers.
Some of the other factors like drought and small size of land also is
determining of the farmers suicides. The main facts relating to farmer
suicides in India has been their widespread occurrence, from drought-prone
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra to heavy-rainfall states like
Kerala, and also Punjab which has large areas under irrigation. There are
functional relationship between small piece of lands and suicide rate among
different states. It is true that the states (not considering the Union
Territories) with the highest suicide rates amongst the farmers such
as Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andre Pradesh, West
Bengal have some of the highest proportions of marginal farmers. However,
Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh,
Himachal Pradesh, and Assam have a high percentage of marginal farmers
has low suicide rates and therefore do not fit into this pattern.
The farmer’s suicides in five states of India during 1995 to 2014 are
presented in Table 2.6. It shows that Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh has committed two third of
farmers suicide in India during the period 1995 to 2014. The number of
farmers’ suicide in Maharashtra has been continuously increased from
1083 in 1995 to 4147 in 2004 and 4453 in 2006. Thereafter, it has decline
trend from 4238 in 2007 to 2568 in 2014. The suicide rate in the state is
63318 during the two decades. The state is top rank in farmers’ suicide
33
compared to all other states of India. That is comparatively higher suicide
occurred in the year of 2000 to 2008 than other period of study.
Table 2.6: Farmer’s Suicide in Five States of India: 1995-2014

Year Maharashtra Andhra Karnataka Madhya Total of Total Farmer’s
Pradesh Pradesh, Five States Suicide in India
Chhattisgarh
1995 1083 1196 2490 1239 6008 10720
(10.1) (11.2) (23.2) (11.6) (56.0)
1996 1981 1706 2011 1809 7507 13729
(14.4) (12.4) (14.6) (13.2) (54.7)
1997 1917 1097 1832 2390 7236 13622
(14.1) (8.1) (13.4) (17.5) (53.1)
1998 2409 1813 1883 2278 8333 16015
(15.0) (11.3) (11.8) (14.2) (52.0)
1999 2423 1974 2379 2654 9430 16082
(15.1) (12.3) (14.8) (16.5) (58.6)
2000 3022 1525 2630 2660 9837 16603
(18.2) (9.2) (15.8) (16.0) (59.2)
2001 3536 1509 2505 2824 10374 16415
(21.5) (9.2) (15.3) (17.2) (63.2)
2002 3695 1896 2340 2578 10509 17971
(20.6) (10.6) (13.0) (14.3) (58.5)
2003 3836 1800 2678 2511 10825 17164
(22.3) (10.5) (15.6) (14.6) (63.1)
2004 4147 2666 1963 3033 11809 18241
(22.7) (14.6) (10.8) (16.6) (64.7)
2005 3926 2490 1883 2660 10959 17131
(22.9) (14.5) (11.0) (15.5) (64.0)
2006 4453 2607 1720 2858 11638 17060
(26.1) (15.3) (10.1) (16.8) (68.2)
2007 4238 1797 2135 2856 11026 16632
(25.5) (10.8) (12.8) (17.2) (66.3)
2008 3802 2105 1737 3152 10797 16196
(23.5) (13.0) (10.7) (19.5) (66.7)
2009 2872 2414 2282 3197 10765 17368
(16.5) (13.9) (13.1) (18.4) (62.0)
2010 3141 2525 2585 2363 10614 15964
(19.7) (15.8) (16.2) (14.8) (66.5)
2011 3337 2206 2100 1326 8969 14027
(23.8) (15.7) (15.0) (9.5) (639)
2012 3786 2572 1875 1176 9409 13718
(27.6) (18.7) (13.7) (8.6) (68.6)
2014 2568 160 321 1269 4318 5650
(45.5) (2.8) (5.7) (22.5) (76.4)
The total percentage share of farmer’s suicide in the state is 21

percent during two decades. During 2014, the stage is committed nearly
34
half portion of the total farmer’s suicide in India and it is nearly 45.5
percent. The government was announced farm relief package worth of Rs.
5000 for the farmers’ development in the state. Among the different districts
of the state, Vidarbha districts are highly affected area.
Andre Pradesh are committed more farmers’ suicide rate after the
Maharashtra state. The suicide rate is gradually increases from 1196 in
1995 to 2666 in 2004 and 2607 in 2006. Thereafter the rate of suicide is
stagnating stage during 2006 to 2012. The state shows little bit different
picture of farmers’ suicides as compare to total suicides in India. The
percentage of suicide rate in the state are registered higher percentage share
during 2004 to 2012 exclusively 2007. Total percentage of the suicide is
occur 12.4 percent (36058) during the two decades.
Maharashtra, Andre Pradesh including Telangana, Karnataka,

Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh states are highest incidence happening
the farmers’ suicide in India. These state have been occur two-thirds of total
suicide in the country during two decades. Big states consist of five recorded
76.4 percent of the farmers’ suicide in the total suicide in 2014. The
Maharashtra had highest percentage of farmers’ suicides for the period
1995 to 2014, which is 22 percent. Top five states in farmers’ suicide
contribute to 62 percent of the total for the same suicides. All other state
had 38 percent of farmers’ suicides for the same period.
In India, the farmers are facing the problems such as adverse impact
of climate change, non-remunerative prices, centre overshadowing the
principles of cooperative federalism decreed states to not announce the crop
bonus. Various states are facing critical problem of drought. The water
crisis in these states is due to monsoon failure. The rains have failed for the
three continues years; it has destroyed due to water intensive sugarcane
cultivation in Maharashtra. The sugarcane is very predominantly
cultivating the crop in the state.
35
The causes for the farmer suicides are increasing unseasonal weather
conditions and fall in prices of agricultural commodities. But high input
costs, low returns, the consequent inability to repay farm loans, and general
neglect have made agriculture unviable for the small and marginal farmer.
A majority of farmers are in the clutches of private moneylenders who
double up as sellers of seeds, fertilizers and other inputs. The Government
of India has been set up the committee on Ramesh Chand Committee in
2013. The main objective of the committee is to recommend getting better
farm margins. The committee did not go well with government.
Depleting production and monopoly of traders has hit returns and

added to farmers’ debt in Maharashtra. Vidarbha, Amaravathi and Nagpur
have the worst hit area last three years. The drought was declared over
38.42 lakh ha. during 2013(kharif season), 112.46 lakh ha. in 2014 (kharif)
and 53.11 lakh ha in 2015 (kharif season). Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
have been committed the highest number of farmer suicides in the country.
The reasons are the existence of a faulty mechanism due to which
government credit for agriculture does not reach the small farmer. Another
is prevalence of high indebtedness among small and medium farmers. The
government credit is could not reach the small farmers due to high level of
indebtedness. The study revealed that for households with small
landholdings the traditional moneylender was the source of farm credit.
These debts carried high interest rates (as much as 25 percent or more) and
that the debt burden "is far higher than what their asset value could hold".
Indebtedness among cultivators was in "inverse proportion" to the extent of
land they held, the smaller ones carrying larger debt burdens in all states
across the country (ASSOCHAM’s Study on ‘Farm Structure Reform,
Business Line, 2015).
36
Table 2.7: State-wise Distribution of Farmers’ Suicide by Causes in India: 2014
States Poverty Property Marriage Family Farming Failure due to due to inability illness Bankrupcy crop due to farm non- Total
disputes related Problems related of natural other to sell (total) loan equipments agri
problems issues crops calamities reasons loan
Andre 1 2 11 42 42 30 12 8 36 25 1 10 160
Pradesh
Assam 15 21
Bihar
Chhattisgarh 5 5 59 18 4 2 2 14 118 443
Goa
Gujarat 4 2 3 3 3 7 45
Haryana 1 1 2 14
Himachal 1 28 28 28 1 1 32
Pradesh
Jammu & 12
Kashmir
Jharkhand
Karnataka 5 1 2 15 106 105 4 101 1 50 51 28 5 18 321
Kerala 12 3 34 19 5 5 107
Madhya 7 44 208 119 119 71 48 152 1 1 826
Pradesh
Maharastra 24 7 35 671 352 350 294 56 2 241 857 765 16 76 2568
Manipur
Megalaya
Mizoram
Nagaland
Odhisha 1 3 1 1 5
Punjab 1 7 5 3 3 24
Rajasthan
Sikkim 4 1 35
Tamil Nadu 1 31 31 68
Telangana 112 21 67 295 295 90 205 101 208 146 62 898
Tripura
Uttar 3 2 2 24 6 6 6 6 63
Pradesh
Uttarakhand
West Bengal
Total States 149 52 119 1134 969 952 491 461 17 741 1163 965 22 176 5642
U Ts
A & N Islands 2 1 4 8
Chandigarh
D & N Haveli
Daman & Diu
Delhi
Lakshadweep
Pondichery
Total U Ts 2 1 4 8
All India 149 52 121 1135 969 952 491 461 17 745 1163 965 22 176 5650
37
In Karnataka, there is serious agrarian crisis leads to an increase in
cultivation costs and a decline in agricultural income. As a results farmer
is in a debt trap; and second, the sociological pressures that farmers face
because of the disparity between their income and those in urban areas.
Insecurity among farmers is because of institutional mechanisms. It is
difficult to get crop loans. There is serious agrarian crisis with an increase
in cost of cultivation and a decline in income among the farmers. Another
is also sociological pressure among the farmers. Most farmers are interested
to buy luxury items such as cars have now become aspirational need.
The mono-cropping is another problem in the state. The mono-crop

is when it failed, they faced total collapse. Another reason is excess
production of agricultural commodities results the farmers will get low price
and low profit and illegal moneylenders is another problem in the state. It
is a socially complex issue (The Hindu, July19th 2015).
2.3. Intensity of Farmers' Suicides in Tamil Nadu
Farmer’s suicides is one of the threat in recent years. The farmer’s

livelihood is questionable in recent years. The farmers are exploited by
middle men, government, private and corporate sectors from plantation to
cultivation. After the economic reforms periods, the farmers are struggling
for basic needs in the society. The agricultural sector is become
commercialization, competitiveness, no profitable and very lower prices for
the produce. The Government and private sector is totally neglected this
sector. A large majority of the farmers are small farmers in the world. In
recent years, due to global economic system, is totally destroyed the small
farmers. Farmer’s suicides are the most terrible events in the Indian
peasant’s history as well as in Tamil Nadu. The main reasons behind it is
increase in indebtedness, falling price of agricultural commodities, mount
38
amount of cost of cultivation, crop loss, monsoon failure, seed monopoly
are major challenging factors for increasing farmers suicides in India and
Tamil Nadu.
District-wise details of farmers' suicide in Tamil Nadu during 2015-

16 is presented in Table 2.8. Out of 32 districts in Tamil Nadu, 16 districts
have happening the incidence. Tirunelveli district are having highest 18
percent of incidence of committed suicides and followed by Tiruvarur and
Nagapattinam districts are having 16 percent and 13 percent. Delta region
such as Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Thanjavur districts are seriously
happening the incidence. A large number of farmers in this region are
mainly depending up on Cauvery water. The farmers of the delta region is
expecting opening of Mettur Dam water every year. Otherwise, they are
seriously affected, if not open of the dam. Water is the fundamental issue
and its adequacy is very essential for the successful farming. However,
complete absence of assured water is main challenge to be reckoned. Almost
all the farmers are in the delta region critically depends on Cauvery river
water. If it is not given, the farmers face very high risk and uncertainties
most of the times and pushed towards depression as there is no other water
sources.
39
Table 2.8: District-wise Details of Farmers' Suicide in Tamil Nadu: 2015-16
Name of the Districts No. of Percent No. of farmers No. of farmers'
Farmers’ to suicide per lakh suicide per lakh
Suicides State hectare of hectare of Gross
Total Net Sown Area = cropped area =
(no. of farmers' (no. of farmers'
suicides x suicides x
100,000) / net 100,000) / gross
sown area in ha) cropped area in ha
Ariyalur 1 2.22 1.01 0.89
Coimbatore 2 4.44 1.15 1.13
Dindugal 1 2.22 0.44 0.42
Madurai 1 2.22 0.80 0.77
Nagapattinam 6 13.33 4.01 2.23
Niligiris 2 4.44 2.69 2.69
Pudukottai 1 2.22 0.87 0.84
Thanjavur 4 8.89 2.09 1.48
Theni 3 6.67 2.67 2.35
Tirunelveli 8 17.78 4.83 4.13
Tiruvarur 7 15.56 4.45 2.14
Trichirappalli 1 2.22 0.62 0.56
Vellore 3 6.67 1.76 1.48
Villupuram 2 4.44 0.59 0.42
Virudhunagar 3 6.67 2.42 2.35
Total 45 100 0.93 0.75
In southern part of Tamil Nadu, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar

districts are recorded the highest rate of 18 percent and 7 percent,
respectively. Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Theni and Madurai districts’
farmers are mainly depending upon the Vaigai, Thamiraparani and Mullai
Periyar water sources. They highly sensitive and emotional bonding due to
the traditional cultural behavior. There is dispute of Mullai Periyar water
crisis among the Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Government of Kerala is troubling
and making politics in the sense. The availability of water in Mullai Periyar
River is enough for both states. There is no decline of water in the river
because, of natural and climatic and hill station.
40
Table 2.9 Month-wise Farmers' Suicide in Tamil Nadu: July, 2015 to June,
2016
Months Numbers of Farmers Percentage to Total Number
Suicides of Farmers’ Suicides
July, 2015 3 11.54
August, 2015 1 3.85
September, 2015 2 7.69
October, 2015 3 11.54
November, 2015 1 3.85
December, 2015 2 7.69
January, 2016 2 7.69
February, 2016 2 7.69
Marh,2016 3 11.54
April, 2016 2 7.69
May, 2016 2 7.69
June, 2016 3 11.54
Total 26 100
Monthly-wise farmers' suicide in Tamil Nadu during July, 2015 to

June, 2016 is given in Table 2.9. The highest percentage of farmer’s suicides
in Tamil Nadu is happening to11.5 percent during July and October, 2015,
March and June, 2016, respectively. The South-West and North-East
monsoon is main factors behind it. During July, 2015, the farmers are not
ready to cultivate the crops. The Government of Tamil Nadu is not opening
the Mettur Dam during the season in time. During October, 2015, the delay
of North East Monsoon in Tamil Nadu.
2.4. Procedure Adopted and Criteria for Compensation
During 2012-13, Hon’able J Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister of Tamil

Nadu has announced to all these districts of Tamil Nadu except Chennai
became drought affected area. The government has distributed
compensation to affected farmers worth of Rs. 15, 000/acre including cost
of cultivation. It is first state issued separate Government order in the
country. She has declared that the cost of cultivation highest losses to the
farmers during that period. During that period, she also announced Rs. 3
41
lakhs for committed farming suicides. During 2014-15, she has announced
Rs. 5700 crore for loan waiving for small and marginal farmers those get
loan from cooperative banks in terms of short and medium term crop loan.
Nearly, 8.5 lakhs farmers were benefited from this announcement.
During 2015-16, Hon’able J Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister of Tamil

Nadu has announced special packages for both the kuruvai (short-term)
and samba (long-term) paddy crop seasons. She also including three-phase
power supply to delta districts to keep existing tube well irrigation going
when the Cauvery issue was on the boil, have a limited utility and scope.
Totally Rs.20,000 crore were distributed in terms of crop loan to the farmers
from cooperative banks during 2011-16. During 2016, the government has
distributed worth of Rs. 6, 000 crore through cooperative society.
Generally, the government have adopt the field visit from every
farming households by the government officials. The official are estimating
the fact of the crop position and how much cost incurred and losses to the
farmers. The agricultural official are estimating ranging from 10 percent,
33 percent, 50 percent, 60 percent, 80 percent and 100 percent, respectively
based on affection of crops. In recent days, the government has created
Global Information System for predicting the soil and crop condition of
particular village by Anna University. The system operated in the way of
Mobile Phone in terms Povan off by the government. The Revenue,
Agricultural and horticultural departments, Government of Tamil Nadu
have been estimating the crop position in the village in Tamil Nadu. The
government adopt the 10 percent of the total village have been selected from
drought districts of Tamil Nadu. Each village have been given separate
number for estimating purposes. The government are estimating 31districts
of Tamil Nadu. Village Administrative Officers are involve to estimating the
42
crop failure. Normally, 33 percent of the drought hit area are become taken
into account for estimating of crop position.
The government have adopt certain norms and conditions. The

committed suicides is due to farming operations not by others. The farmers
are having own land and cultivating the crop during the period. If any crop
losses occur during this incidence. The First Information Record is to be
filed for the cases of farming suicides. The Revenue Department is also
given certificate relating to own land details, cause of suicides. The medical
certificate received from the Government Medical Hospital. The above said
documents are very essential for getting the compensation worth of Rs. 3
lakh from government.
2.4 Compensation Paid and Actions by Tamil Nadu to Avert in the

Future
Hon’able O. Paneerselvan, Chief Minister, Government of Tamil Nadu

has announced the committees for estimating the drought situation due to
deficient rainfall during northeast monsoon. As per the Centre’s revised
guidelines, the crop condition in 10 percent of the villages should be
inspected and estimated to decide to whether or not declare the districts
concerned as drought-hit. All District Collectors have been instructed to
inspect the crop condition and drought situation and submit their reports
to the government on 10th January, 2017 (The Hindu, Chennai, 4th January,
2017).
The Chief Minister, Government of Tamil Nadu has declared a

drought hit districts because of deficient northeast monsoon on 12th
January, 2017. He has declared that the all these districts are drought hit
districts except of Chennai. The announcement as land tax payable by all
43
these districts will be waived completely. The second is short-term crop loan
from cooperative and commercial banks will be converted into mid-term
loan. He has reported that the paddy farmers and those who had sowed
other irrigated crops and have suffered over 33 percent loss will be provided
with Rs.5, 465 per acre as relief while, it will be Rs.7, 287 for long-term
crops. Paddy farmers suffering 100 percent loss eligible for Rs. 21, 500-
26,000 per acre as crop insurance. Farmer producing maize, turmeric also
eligible. He have been taken for providing crop insurance. The Government
plans to contribute to the crop insurance worth of Rs. 410 crore (The
Economic Times, Chennai, 11th January, 2017). As much as 86 percent of
crops cultivated in 12.86 lakh acres in Cauvery delta region have been
insured. About 6.71 lakh farmers in non-delta regions have insured their
crops paying a premium totally Rs. 36.30 crore. The state contributing Rs.
410 crore as its share of premium. In the case of paddy, claims up to Rs.
25, 000 per acre would receive based on loss incurred (The Hindu, Chennai,
4th January, 2017).
According to the Disaster Relief guidelines, farmers who faced a yield

loss above 33 percent would get assistance. For delta region, Rs. 25, 000
could be claimed for 100 percent of loss of crops. Rs. 20, 000 for 80 percent
crop loss, Rs.15, 000 for 60 percent crop loss, Rs.8, 250 for 33 percent crop
loss. For other districts, financial assistance would be paid above 33 percent
crop loss. The claim differ from crop to crop; Rs. 50,000 for turmeric, Rs.
45, 00 for sugarcane, Rs.20, 000 for maize and Rs. 12,000 for pulses per
acre will be given. A detailed report will be submitted to the Union
Government for seeking financial assistance to protect the farming
community in the state. He has announced that the 3 lakh will be provided
to the families of 17 them who committed suicides. The District Collector
44
also have been directed to submit detailed report relating the suicides (The
New Indian Express, Chennai, 11th January, 2017).
2.5 Summary
In India as well as in Tamil Nadu, the generally the farmers suicides

are due to the mental stress. The stress is cause of poverty, crop failure and
loss and indebtedness among the farmers in rural area. in recent years,
indebtedness and the not earning adequate income to relief the debt is affect
the farmers feeling of self-esteem and respect in society. This feeling is
becoming the mental stress and worries leads to the backward or
underdeveloped. This kind of mind set is accumulates and creates a heavy
mental burden. It is note that the most farmers who committed suicide
probably blamed themselves for their poverty, crop loss and indebtedness.
In recent years, the cost of cultivation is very high, lower price for
agricultural commodities and no profitable of farming community is led to
the indebtedness.
45
Tamil Nadu Declared Drought-hit; Chief Minster Announces Sops for
Farmers
The whole of Tamil Nadu will be declared drought-hit following the

failure of the monsoon, said the State government, while announcing a
drought relief package. The North-East monsoon has been deficient across the
State and every district is drought-affected. The government has waived land
tax for farmers; rescheduled ₹3,028 crore in crop loans as medium-term loans;
and it will seek the Centre’s financial assistance for drought relief.
Farmers who have lost more than 33 percent of crop yield will be eligible
for relief. The compensation for paddy and other irrigated crops is ₹5,465 an
acre; ₹3,000 for rain-fed (Manavari) crops; ₹7,287 crore for long-term; and
₹3,000 for mulberry. In addition, to claim crop insurance, crop cutting
experiments will be conducted to estimate the level of losses in each area. The
State government has paid over ₹410 crore as its share of insurance premium.
Paddy farmers who have lost their entire crop will be eligible for a
compensation of ₹21,500-26,000/acre. The insurance relief will be in
proportion to the loss in yield. In the Delta districts, the compensation will be
₹25,000/acre for total loss of yield; farmers who have lost one-third of the yield
will get ₹8,250; if the loss is 60 percent, the compensation will be ₹15,000; if
it is 80 percent then the compensation will be ₹20,000. Maize crops are eligible
up to a maximum of ₹20,000/acre; pulses ₹12,000; sugarcane, ₹45,000; and
turmeric ₹50,000.
Over ₹3,400 crore will be allocated for works such as desilting and
refurbishment of canals and tanks to generate jobs for landless labourers. The
government has also allocated ₹78 crore for green fodder and animal feed for
dairy cattle and livestock; ₹160 crore for drinking water augmentation in
urban centres and towns; ₹350 crore for drinking water infrastructure in rural
areas; ₹5 crore for water and feed supply for wild animals in forest areas; ₹25
crore for public works to upgrade ground water recharge infrastructure; and ₹
3 lakh each to the families of 17 farmers who committed suicide over the last
two months.
According to official estimates, the normal rainfall from October to
December, the North-East Monsoon is 440 mm. However, in the last season,
it was down to 168 mm. The average drop in the north east monsoon across
the State is around 65 percent. Of the 12.86 lakh acres of paddy crop in the
Delta districts, nearly 11 lakh acres have been insured.
(The Hindu, Business Line, Chennai, 10th January, 2017)
46
Chapter III
Socio-economic Profile of the Victim Households
3.1 Introduction
The present chapter mainly discusses the socio-economic conditions

of the victim’sfamily in the districts of Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur,
Thanjavur and Pudukottai of Tamil Nadu. The data, related to the family
size and its composition, their educational status, the prevailing caste
system and land-using patterns have been analyzed. In addition to these,
cropping patterns and production structure in the area taken up for this
study of the concerned districts are also discussed. It gives a comprehensive
analysis of operational holdings, sources of irrigation and structure of
tenancy, cropping pattern and costs, returns, sources and purpose of credit
in the area taken up for this study.
Various factors like habits such as drinking and gambling, combined

with crop failures, chit fund losses, family problems, with spouse, chronic
illness, daughter’s marriage, political affiliation, property disputes, debt
burden, price crash, housing loans, losses in non-farm activities, failure of
and bore well have been the main reasons for incidences of farmers suicides
in India as well as Tamil Nadu. The agrarian crisis as a result of crop failure
due to water shortage and the farmers demanding compensation have led
some of the farmers to take away their lives.
The farmer suicides have become a controversial subject over the

past two decades in India. The research team has been visiting the
households in the districts of Ariyalur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam,
Thanjavur and Pudokottai, where there have been reports of farmer
suicides. The study team have collected data from the victims’ households
47
have engaged in conversations with the families and some of the fellow
villagers.
3.1.1. Agriculture in the Area taken up for this study
In Tamil Nadu, the agriculture sector confronts a number of

problems. The farmers face many challenges during the time of cultivation.
During the last two years, the farming community has struggled with
insufficient water due to failure of monsoons and non-availability of
Cauvery water and water sharing issues of Mullai Periyar dam. The
availability of water is very essential for the farmers to cultivate crops within
reasonable time. A majority of the farmers in the delta region did not
cultivate the Kuruvai crop because of lack of water. A number of farmers in
the region stated that there were many problems with paddy sowing. Firstly,
there was a delay in the arrival of canal water. The direct paddy sowing
allows the crop to survive for only 20 to 30 days with little or no water. But
when the crops were young, rains and Cyclone Nilam destroyed the crops
and a lot of farmers had to resow them. Most farmers are mainly dependent
on the Cauvery water for irrigation. The farmers are further stressed due to
the drying up of rivers and canals after water release was stopped. But, the
farmers in the low lying areas managed to save their crop. On the other
hand, installing borewell is also not possible as the underground water is
salty.
3.2. Socio-economic Profile of the Victim
The profile of the victims’ households offers considerable information

about the environment that could have caused farmer suicides in the area
taken up for this study. Generally, the farmer suicides are sensitive social
and political issues. We have also taken into consideration of the
48
background. Likewise, the intra-family relationship has caused one incident
of farmer suicide.
Table 3.1: Socio-economic Profile of Victim

Particulars Percentage
Total Number of Victim Households Surveyed: (Numbers) 30.0
Type of Respondents (Percent 1.Wives / Sons / Daughters 73.0
to Total Sample) 2.Brothers / Sisters / others 27.0
Gender (Percent to Total 1.Male 93.0
Sample) 2.Female 7.0
Social Status (Percent to Total 1.SC 40.0
Sample) 2.ST -
3.OBC 57.0
4.General 3.0
Religion (Percent to Total 1.Hindu 97.0
Sample) 2.Muslim -
3.Christian 3.0
4.Others -
Age Group (Percent to Total 1.Upto 30 years 10.0
Sample) 2.Between 31 to 60 years 43.0
3.Above 60 years 47.0
Years of Schooling (Percent to 1.Illiterate 33.0
Total Sample) 2.Primary ( 4 years ) 17.0
3.Middle (7 years) 30.0
4.Matriculation(10 years) 7.0
5.Higher secondary (12 years) 7.0
6.Degree/Diploma (15 years) 7.0
7.Above Degree (Above 15 years) -
Marital Status (Percent to 1.Married 97.0
Total Sample) 2.Un Married 3.0
Type of Marriage (Percent to 3.Arranged 80.0
Total Sample) 4.Love 20.0
Married to whom (Percent to 5.Within relatives 50.0
Total Sample) 6.Outside relatives 50.0
Heirs of the Victim (Average 1.Sons 80.0
No. to total) 2.Daughters 20.0
Victims who had parents and 1.Only Mother 10.0
had brothers and sisters 2 Only Father 10.0
(Percent to Total Sample) 3.Both mother and father 40.0
4.Brothes and sisters 40.0
Method of Suicide (Percent to 1.Poison consumption 70.0
Total Sample) 2.Hanging 23.0
3.Jumping into river / well 7.0
4. Current shock -
5. Self-immolation -
6. Railway Track -
7. Others -
Place of suicide (Percent to 1.House 47.0
Total Sample) 2.Farm 50.0
3. Lodge / Hotel -
4. Others 3.0
Source: Field Survey Data Collected by AERC, University of Madras
49
In Tamil Nadu, the victims’ households are located in the districts of
Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tirunelveli, Pudokottai.
Interestingly, there are cases of farmers’ suicides reported from districts of
Thoothukudi, Coimbatore, Madurai, Nilgiris, Vellore, Villupuram and
Cuddalore. The highest number of cases were reported from Tirunelveli,
Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Pudokottai.
The socio-economic profile of victim in the area taken up for this

study of Tamil Nadu is presented in Table 3.1. We find that victims belonged
to all age groups, though a majority of them (47 percent) were above 60
years. There were 43 percent in the 30-60 years of age, while10 percent
below 30 years of age. There were quite a few cases where the age was
around 30 years. In short, the older people seem to be more prone to
suicides as against the younger or middle-age people and the highest
number around 60 years of age. This is the age when a many major
decisions have to be taken and liabilities for the households have to be
borne.
There were 29 victims who were married. The marriage problem is not
uniform among victim farmers. Family tensions are among most important
causes and reflects the failure of social institutions. The farmers are
committed to their children’s education, especially their daughters and the
family as a whole. The mode of committing suicide was invariably from
consuming poison (pesticides) 70 percent of them died by consuming
poison, 23 percent by hanging and there was also a few cases of jumping
into river/well.
Of the total 30 cases of victim families interviewed from Ariyalur,

Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur and Pudukottai of Tamil Nadu, with
respect to the caste composition, 57 percent were OBC, 40 percent were
50
SC and remaining belonged to other castes. In Tamil Nadu, the large
number of farmers who committed suicide also came from the OBCs.
However, there are also cases of farmers hailing from the more dominant
castes such as Thevers, Vanniyars and Schedule caste committing suicide,
in the area taken up for this study.
The literacy rate of victim farmers was diverse, where 33 percent of

them were illiterates, 30 percent of them educated up to middle school level
and 17 percent to primary school level and 21 percent of them were
educated above the matriculation level. Very few had studied up to degree
level. It is to be noted that the victims were generally from families of poor
peasants and agricultural labourers. They did not have adequate education
and had low levels of schooling.
During past two decades, committing suicide of farmers and

agricultural labours have increased in Tamil Nadu. The agriculture
department, and Police department, Government of Tamil Nadu have not
recorded the farmer’s suicide cases at present. Besides, the rural people
have also not reported or registered to the police, mainly due to lack of
awareness and illiteracy among the peasants. Further, the peasants are
afraid of the legal process involved. The agricultural department and police
department, Government of Tamil Nadu do not having adequate statistical
data related to farmer’s suicides. Most of these estimates are based on
incidence of suicides in Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and
Pudukottai districts. These districts show a high trend among farmers to
commit suicide compared to other districts of Tamil Nadu.
51
NHRC Notice to Tamil Nadu on Growing Number of Farmer Deaths
NHRC said that farmers are feeling neglected by policymakers despite

being the most crucial and significant section of the society. The National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) sent a notice to the Tamil Nadu government
regarding continuing farmer deaths in the state. “The National Human Rights
Commission has taken suomotu cognizance of media reports regarding the
deaths of 106 farmers during a period of one month in Tamil Nadu which it
considers as a matter of concern,” said the notice.
NHRC observed, “There is a need for sincere implementation of the laws
and policies made for the farming sector especially, the small farmers. The
farmers are required to be brought out of the agrarian crisis, which have been
adversely affecting them since long.” Failure of crop not only affects the farmers
financially, but also puts them under tremendous stress and mental agony. The
entire family collapses when a farmer dies or commits suicide.
The commission issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu and
asked for a detailed report within six weeks with steps taken or proposed to be
taken by the state government. The state government, which had remained
silent amid farmer deaths and the growing demands to declare the state drought
hit, finally spoke up on Tuesday that a high-level committee will be formed to
assess the extent of farmer distress.
Earlier on Thursday, Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu
government to file an affidavit within four weeks regarding the steps taken by it
to prevent farmer suicides in the state. “We would like the state government to
place on record the steps which have been taken to prevent the suicides of
farmers,” said the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and
Justice M. Sundar.
“A Tamil daily reported on 03.01.2017 that 83 farmers died of heart attack.
There have also been instances of suicides by farmers. The same newspaper
reported on 05.01.2017 that the number of deaths has reached 106,” said the
NHRC notice.
The Mint, 6th January, 2017.
52
3.3. Socio-economic Profile of Victims' Family
The total number of farmer suicides in these villages of the concerned

districts of Tamil Nadu varied from one to eleven cases. Hence, invariably
after committing suicides the village decided to perform their funeral rites
according to the religious commitment. Hence, all these cases were
reported to the police and to the Medical Doctor of the concerned Medical
College Hospital.
Table 3.2: Socio-Economic Profile of Victims' Family
Particulars Percentage
Existing Household Size: (Average Numbers) 4.0
Households depending on Farming as a Main Occupation (Percent to Total) 100
Family Type (Percent to Total 1.Joint 57.0
Sample) 2.Nuclear 43.0
Location of the Households 1.Within the village 53.0
(Percent to Total Sample) 2.In their own farm 47.0
Age Group of Family 1.Adult Males (>15 years) 33.0
Members (Percent to Total 2.Adult Females (>15 years) 49.0
Sample) 3.Children (<15 years) 18.0
Years of Schooling of Family 1.Illiterate 20.0
Members (Percent to Total 2.Primary ( 4 years ) 9.0
Sample) 3.Middle (7 years) 7.0
4.Matriculation/secondary (10 years) 29.0
5.Higher secondary (12 years) 10.0
6.Degree/Diploma (15 years) 23.0
7.Above Degree (Above 15 years) 2.0
Farm Percent of Area to 1.Marginal (0.1 to 2.5 ac) 21.1 (20)
Size Holdings of Sample 2.Small (2.51 to 5 ac) 29.5 (28)
3.Medium (5.1 to 10 ac) 55 (52)
4.Large (10.1 and above) -
Percent of Holdings 1.Marginal (0.1 to 2.5 ac) 50.0
to Total Sample 2.Small (2.51 to 5 ac) 26.0
3.Medium (5.1 to 10 ac) 24.0
4.Large (10.1 and above) -
Average operational holding size 3.52
(acres Per HH)
The socio-economic profile of victim’s family members are presented

in Table 3.2. The percentage of land holdings to total sample size, it was
found that 50 percent were marginal farmers, 26 percent were small
farmers and 24 percent were medium farmers. It is found that the victim
53
farmers were mostly from poverty ridden people consisting of marginal,
small farmers. This indicates that the majority of the farmers committed
suicides were marginal and small farmers. Their family size ranged from
three to four with an average of 4. Among 30 families, the percentage
contribution of area to total land holdings, 20 percent had lands ranging
from up to 2.5 acres, 28 percent had lands ranging from 2.5 to 5 acres and
another 52 percent owned 5 to 10 acres. The average size of operational
land holdings are 3.52 acres.
As for the education levels of the victim’s family 29 percent up to

secondary level, 23 percent belonged to degree level and 20 percent were
illiterate and 21 percent had matriculation and above level of education. A
few of them of them had studied up to primary and higher secondary level.
Their family members have adequate secondary education and had attained
high level of college education. A majority of the victim’s households lived
in joint families and the nuclear family occupy. A half part of the farmers
who committed suicide had land area below five acre. A majority of the
farmers were marginal and small farmers. A majority of them own land and
some of them had leased land. The main intention of cultivation of leased
land is to earn better.
3.4. Characteristics of Operational Holdings
The characteristics of operational holdings in the area taken up for

this study are shown in Table 3.3. Total owned landholding among the
victim’s households works out to 2.52 acres. It is interesting that 1.10 acres
have reported leasing in a portion of their operational holding and 0.07
acres have reported leasing out a portion of their ownership holding. The
net operated area worked out 3.55 acres. Thus the land-lease is prevalent
54
in Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts and a majority of
leasing land belong to the temples of the concerned district.
Table 3.3: Characteristics of Operational Holdings (Per HH)

S. No. Land Details Irrigated Un-irrigated Total
1 Total Owned Land 2.52 - 2.52
2 Un-cultivated Land - - -
3 Cultivated (Own) 2.52 - 2.52
4 Leased-in Land 1.10 - 1.10
5 Leased-out Land 0.07 - 0.07
6 Net Operated Area (1-2+4-5) 3.55 - 3.55
7 Gross Cropped Area 106.5 - 106.5
8 Gross Irrigated Area 106.5 - 106.5
9 Net Irrigated Area 3.55 - 3.55
3.5 Sources of Irrigation
Various irrigation system like well, canal and tanks occupied

important place in the agricultural sector of Tamil Nadu. Of these, wells
accounted for 62 percent, followed by canals (24 percent) and tanks (14
percent) during 2014-15. Total net area irrigated is 27 lakhs ha during the
same period. The net area irrigated contributed 57 percent of net sown area.
The opening of the Mettur Dam is the determining factor in the state
agriculture. During 2014-15, the dam was opened two months late, on 9th
August, 2015, when the actual opening date is 12th June of every year.
Whenever there is delay in the opening of the dam, there is an impact on
the raising of kuruvai cultivation in the Cauvery delta regions (Seasonal
Crop Report, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2014-15).
During 2014-15, canal irrigation accounted for 24.5 percent of the

net area irrigated by all sources in the state. Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and
Thiruvarur districts together share about 61 percent of the total net area
irrigated by canals in the State. Tanks are the main source of irrigation in
55
Ramanathapuram district where 78 percent of its total area irrigated was
only from tanks, followed by Sivagangai with 75 percent, Pudhukottai with
56 percent. The net area irrigated by wells during the year 2014-15 was the
highest in Villupuram district with 208539 ha. Except delta districts, The
Nilgiris, Ramanathapuram and Kanyakumari, almost all of the other
districts of Tamil Nadu have wells as the main source of irrigation, where
above 50 percent of the total net area irrigated are irrigated only by wells
(Seasonal Crop Report, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2014-15).
Water crisis in the reservoirs is major problem in the state. The

storage in 15 major reservoirs in the state, which are sources of drinking
water, the supply is only 13 percent of their capacity. The worst hit are
three reservoirs like Vaigai, Papanasam and Manimuthur catering to the
southern districts. Vaigai which covers the thirst of Theni, Dindugal,
Madurai, Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram can maintain its present
supply only for 10 days. The other two reservoirs, which rely on
Tamiraparaniriver, can, manage supply for 40 days. Acute water crisis in
Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, after the northeast monsoon left a large
deficiency of rainfall (62 percent) until December. Siruvani is the major
supplier for Coimbatore can last only for a month (The Times of India,
Chennai, 7th January, 2017).
The sources of irrigation in Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam

districts are mainly upon the Cauvery Rivers. The delta regions are mange
very efficient canal irrigation system adopted from olden days. The Stanley
Dam was constructed across Cauvery River during pre-independence
period in Mettur, Salem district. The Cauvery water spreads across a
distance of 400 km. It is still serving as the main source of surface water
irrigation in the area taken up for this study. Water received from the dam
56
is well regulated at Grand Anicut located here. It is distributed into three
main systems like Cauvery, Vennar and Grand Anicutcanal. The Cauvery
water is used for agricultural purposes and drinking purposes of the
surrounding districts. Even though, in recent years, the storage capacity in
the Stanely Reservoir has become low and people of the district are being
forced to venture upon other sources for irrigation water particularly ground
water (Profile of State, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2014).
Surface irrigation is the main source of irrigation. Cauvery, Vennar,

and Grand Anaicut Canal with their subsidiaries viz. Vettar, Kudamurutti,
Thirumalairajan, Veerachozhan, Arasalar, Agniyar, KalyanaOdai and
Poonaikuthi River constitute the irrigation system of the district. The
ground water is another source for irrigation in the area taken up for this
study. The ground water mainly depends upon the monsoon. The
availability of surface water is not guaranteed, the people exploit the ground
water in large proportions. This has caused lowering of water table in the
area especially in summer months (Profile of State, Government of Tamil
Nadu, 2014).
Table 3.4: Source-wise Distribution of Irrigated Area

S.No. Land Details Total Area in acres/ HH Percent to total sample area
A. Irrigated Area
Irrigated 3.55 100
Unirrigated - -
Total Area 3.55 100
B Sources of Irrigation
Open well 1.07 33.0
Tube well 0.22 13.0
Tank - -
Canal 2.17 47.0
Others 0.10 7.0
Total Irrigated Area 3.55 100
57
Table 3.4 gives the source distribution of irrigated area in the area
taken up for this study. It shows that the victim’s households largely used
canal irrigation. 47 percent of the households had access to canal irrigation.
The proportion of area under irrigation among the victims is 47 percent in
aggregate but this proportion differs across three districts like Thanjavur,
Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam. The total irrigated area among the
households under irrigation are 3.55 acres. Water is the fundamental issue
and its adequacy is very essential for the successful farming. However,
complete absence of assured water is the main challenge to be reckoned
with. Almost all the farmers in the delta region critically depend on Cauvery
river water. If it is not given, the farmers face very high risks and
uncertainties most of the times and pushed towards depression, as there is
no other water source. The access of irrigation to farming community is very
small. The delta region did not get sufficient water during this year.
3.6 Leasing of Land
In India, the states have taken a multidimensional perspective

relating leasing-in land. The states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Bihar, Karnataka, Telengana have banned leasing land. Even though, there
are some exceptions granted to landowners among widows, minors,
disabled and defence people. The government of Kerala has also banned the
system. Recently the state allowed self-help groups to lease land. States like
Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Assam allow the land for
leasing purposes. The farmers are allowed to purchase the leased land from
owners after certain period of time. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Rajasthan and West Bengal have liberal tenancy laws (The Economic Times,
14th April, 2016).
58
Table 3.5: Rental Value of Leased-in and Leased-out Land
S.No. Particulars Irrigated Unirrigated
A Leased - in Area in acres per HH 1.10 -
Rental value paid per acre in Rs. 4331 -
B Leased-out Area in acres per HH 0.07 -
Rental value received per acre in Rs. 4500 -
Rental value of leased-in and leased-out land in the area taken up for
this study is presented in Table 3.5. The area under leased-in-land per
household is 1.10 acre and the rental value for those land is Rs. 4,
331/acre. The area under leased-out land per household is 0.07 acre and
rental value received Rs. 4,500/acre. A majority of the farmers in delta
region like Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam use the leasing-in-land.
3.7 Source of Income and Items of Expenditure
In India, the total income per household has improved from Rs.25380
in 2002-03to Rs.77112 in 2012-13. The income grew at Rs. 51,732 during
10 years. The share of farming income in the total income accounted for 46
to 48 percent in the same years. The share of income from animal activities
is increased from 4 percent to 12 percent. Among the major states of India,
income from cultivation of crops from Kerala, Odisha, Rajasthan Tamil
Nadu and West Bengal are the major source of income. The income was less
than 40 percent share in 2002-03. Whereas, Gujarat, J and K, Jharkhand
recorded more income during 2012-13. Chhattisgarh showed remarkable
increase in share of income from cultivation between the reference years
from 50 percent to 65 percent. It showed dismal contribution from animal
farming and nonfarm business in both the years. Kerala and West Bengal
had good share of income from non-farm business in both the years
(Situation Assessment Survey, National Sample Survey, 2012-13).
59
Table 3.6: Net Income and Expenditure during 2015-16
S. Source Amt in Rs. % to % of HH to total sample
No. Per HH total who mentioned that the
income has reduced /
expenditure increased over
the last 5 years (% to each
respective sources)
A Income
1 Agriculture 39,610 72.0 60.0
2 Agriculture wage income -
3 Dairy and animal husbandry 11767 21.0 30.0
4 Poultry 3683 7.0 10.0
5 Fishery - - -
6 Service (salary and pension) - - -
7 Self-business - - -
8 Others-1 - - -
9 Others-2 - - -
10 Others-3 - - -
Total Income (A) 55, 060 100 100
B Consumption Expenditure
1 Food 12,413 72.0 53.0
2 Non-food 4,921 28.0 57.0
Total expenditure (B) 17,334 100
C Surplus / Deficit (+ / -) A- B 37,726
D Percent of expenditure to income 31.5
The net income and expenditure during 2015-16 is given in Table.3.6.

The total income per household of the farming community, are estimated to
be Rs.55, 060. Of which, the average income per household among the
victim’s households are calculated to Rs 39,610 per annum and followed by
dairy and animal husbandry (Rs.11,767 p.a.). The percentage share of
agriculture income, dairy and animal husbandry to total income are 72
percent and 21 percent, respectively. It is noted that the income-generating
capacity of the agriculture sector in very low in the area taken up for this
study. The victim’s family did not have adequate income due to dry situation
of the cultivation area.
60
About 60 percent of farming households mentioned that the income
has reduced / expenditure increased over the last five years due engaging
of agricultural activities. 30 percent of dairy and husbandry income
generating households viewed that the income has reduced. A large number
of farmers (57 percent) viewed that the income has reduced /expenditure
increased over the last five years due to spending for non-food expenditure.
Over the past five years, the cost of cultivation is increased. Particularly,
fertilizer cost, seed cost and labour cost have increased dramatically. The
farmers do not stabilize their expenditure increase and automatically
decline their income. In the same way, consumption of food items, and
clothing have increased unabatedly. During 2013 and 2014, there is high
inflation rate in India and Tamil Nadu. The vegetables, and food and edible
items have increased intensely.
Out of total income of farmers, they have spent the expenditure Rs.
17, 334 per household. They have incurred Rs. 12, 413 and Rs. 4,921 on
food and non-food expenditure respectively. The percentage share of food
and non-food spending of the farming community are 72 percent and 28
percent, respectively. The total surplus of the income to farmers per
household are estimated to be Rs. 37, 726 per annum. A comparative study
between agriculture income and salary people earning of the state, reveals
that the farming community have a very meagre income. The salary people
are earning per month only, but the farmers spend the whole year waiting
for their income. It implies that the one-third of income is spending for their
own expenditure.
61
3.8 Cropping Pattern and Returns from Cultivation
The production of foodgrains has increased from11002473 tonnes in

2013-14 to 12795213 tonnes during 2014-15. There is a remarkable
increase of 16.29 percent. Out of that, rice has a major share of 62 percent
of the total foodgrain production in Tamil Nadu. It has accounted for 30
percent of the total cropped area in the state during 2014-15. Among the
various districts, Tiruvarur district has topped with an area of 192615 ha.
followed by Thanjavur district with 177756 ha. and Villupuram with
171478 ha. and Nagapattinam with district with 159499 ha. The area under
pulses are another major component. It was 883862 ha. constituting 24.5
percent. Sugarcane is another important commercial crop grown. Out of
263066 ha. of area under sugarcane, 47.9 percent is planted and 52.1
percent is under Ratoon. The total area of sugarcane among the districts
like Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tiruvanamalai, Erode, and Namakkal, districts
together accounted for 65 percent. Groundnut is the major crop under
oilseeds accounting for 5.6 percent of the total cropped area (Seasonal Crop
Report, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2014-15).
62
Table 3.7: Season-wise Cropping Pattern in the Area taken up for this study
Name of No. of cultivate % of Total 1.Yield 2.Avera 3.Gros Total 4.Cost of 5.Net Net
the HH Who d area cultivat productio / Acre ge s cost of cultivatio returns returns
crop have in e to n in in qtls price/ return cultivatio n/ Acre / Acre / HH
cultivate acres/ Total Qtls/HH Qtl. s n (Rs.) (Rs.) (Rs.) (Rs.)
d HH) croppe (Rs.) /Acre
d area
Kharif Seasons
Paddy 19 4.0 72.12 79.6 20.09 1412 28032 66059 16480 11552 2437
Cotton 4 3.5 13.26 26.3 7.5 2587 19403 59059 16874 2529 2212
Sugarcane 3 1.5 4.26 23.3 15.6 1959 30473 29663 19775 10698 5349
Groundnu 4 1.5 12.8 8.5 3492 29682 19313 12875 16807 6303
ts 5.68
Rabi Seasons
Paddy 17 4.9 78.22 94.8 19.5 1408 27480 75846 15610 11870 3393
Cotton 4 2.5 9.47 18.3 7.3 3560 25988 40228 16091 9897 6186
Groundnu 9 1.4 11.4 7.9 3462 27297 18801 13016 14281 2292
t 12.31
Summer Seasons
Millets 15 2.3 33.30 4.2 1.8 4247 7645 9200 3925 3720 576
Green 15 3.3 8.0 2.4 4193 10063 13283 4025 6038 1341
gram 46.88
Note: 1.Yield/ Acre in qtls = Total cultivated area / Total production
2. Average price/ Qtl. (Rs.) = Sum of price received / No. of sample farmers who cultivated
3. Gross returns/Acre (Rs.) = ((Average price X Total production) / Total cultivated area)
4. Cost of cultivation/ Acre (Rs.) = Total cost of cultivation / cultivated area
5. Net returns/ Acre (Rs.) = Gross returns per acre minus cost of cultivation per acre
6. Net returns/HH (Rs.) = (((Average price received per qtl. X Total Production) - (total cost of cultivation)) / No. of HH cultivated)
63
Season-wise cropping pattern in the area taken up for this study is
given in Table 3.7. During kharif season, paddy, cotton, sugarcane and
groundnuts are the major crops cultivated in the area selected for this
study. Of which, paddy cultivation is 72 percent followed by cotton (13
percent). The gross returns of paddy crop is estimated to Rs. 28,032/acre,
followed by cotton (Rs. 19, 403/acre), sugarcane (Rs. 30, 473/acre) and
groundnuts (Rs. 29,682/acre). Out of that, the cost of cultivation of paddy,
cotton, sugarcane and groundnuts are estimated to Rs. 16,480, Rs. 16,874,
Rs. 19,775 and Rs. 12,875/acre, respectively. The net income for paddy
cultivators is Rs. 11,552, and Rs. 16, 807 for groundnuts cultivators.
The percentage share of paddy and cotton to total cropped area are
72 percent and 13 percent, respectively. It can be noted that the paddy and
cotton have a dominant share in the cultivation during kharif season. The
cultivated area per households are estimated to 4 acre, 3. 5 acre and 1.5
acre for paddy, cotton, sugarcane and groundnuts crops, respectively. The
average yield of paddy and sugarcane cultivation are calculated to 20.09
Quintal/acre and 15.6 Tonne/acre.
During rabi seasons, paddy, cotton and groundnuts are cultivated

with a dominant share in these areas. Paddy is cultivated in 78 percent of
the total cultivating area, followed by groundnuts (12 percent). The gross
returns are estimated to be Rs. 27,480/acre, Rs. 25, 988/acre and Rs. 27,
297/acre, for paddy, cotton and groundnut cultivators, respectively. Of
which, the cost of cultivation are calculated to Rs. 15,610/acre, Rs.
16091/acre and Rs. 13016/acre for respective crops. When compare the
two seasons, the gross return and cost of cultivation for paddy crop is higher
in kharif season than rabi season. On the same way, return from groundnut
is also higher compared to rabi season. But the cost of cultivation of
groundnuts are higher in the rabi season than the kharif season.
64
During summer, the majority of the farmers cultivate millets and green
gram. The percentage share of millets and green gram are estimated to 53
percent and 47 percent, respectively. The average return from those crops
are estimated to be Rs.7645/acre and Rs. 10, 063/acre, respectively. The
cost of cultivation is calculated to be Rs. 3925 and 4025/acre, respectively.
The net return of the crops is estimated to be Rs. 3720 and Rs. 6038/acre,
respectively. It is found that the paddy and cotton and groundnuts are
cultivated during the kharif and rabi seasons and not during summer.
3.9 Credit Availed
Agricultural credit played a crucial role in the development of

agricultural sector. Thereafter, the government gave importance to
institutional credit for the agriculture sector. The union and state
governments provided various schemes for agricultural sector. The
NABARD and RBI gave instructions to speedier and adequate credit to the
farming community. Similarly, the banks were directed to provide easy loan
to the farmers by initiating various innovative schemes. The progress has
been remarkable and the farmers are provided various institutional
sources.
Since independence, money lenders have been a major source of

credit to the farmers. They accounted for 71.6 percent and they charged
exorbitant interest rates ranging from 20 to 50 percent. The money lenders
forced the farmers to sell the agricultural produce to them for a lower price
especially when there was a post-harvest slump in prices. The agricultural
credit increased from Rs. 86,981 crore in 2003-04 to Rs.4, 68,291 crore in
2010-11. During 2011-12, the target was fixed at Rs.4,75,000 crore, but,
the actual credit received by farmers was Rs. 5, 11,029 crore. It accounted
for 107 percent of the target. The target was Rs. 7, 00,000 crore but the
distribution was Rs. 7, 23,225 crore in March 2014.
65
The percentage share of achievement was 103 percent of the target.
The commercial banks occupy a very important position among the various
sources of agricultural credit to the farmers. The bank credit accounted for
72 percent followed by the co-operative banks (16 percent) and RRB (12
percent). Around Rs. 34 lakh crore were disbursed during the 13 years
(2000-01 to 2012-13) (Annual Report NABARD, 2013-14). According to 12th
FYP estimates, Rs.35 lakh crore to 42 lakh crore would be invested in
agricultural credit.
Table 3.8: Details on Credit of Sample Households

Source of No. of Purpose of Borrowing Outstandin Averag Percent of
Credit borrowin g amount: e borrowing
g Rs./ HH of Interes HH who
HH as Farming Purposes Non-farming borrowing t paid the
percent Purposes HH Rate Installmen
to total No. of Amount No. of Amount t
HH as borrowed HH as borrowed as per
% to per HH % to per HH schedule
borrowin of borrowin of
g HH borrowin g HH borrowin
g g
HH HH
Institutional Credit
Co- 19 (63) 17 (90) 28471 2 (10) 57000 24632 10 32
operative
Society
Commerci 9 (30) 3 (33) 75000 6 (67) 201667 183444 12 100
al Bank
Others - - - - - - - -
Non-institutional Credit
Landlord 6 (20) 3 (50) 41667 3 (50) 50000 45833 14.3 50
Money 12 (40) 8 (67) 127500 4 (33) 225000 125833 13.6 33
Lenders
Traders/ 2 (7) 1 (50) 200000 1 (50) 100000 150000 14.5 50
Agents
Relatives/ 6 (20) 4 (67) 150000 2 (33) 187500 100000 12.3 17
Friends
Others - - - - - - - -
Grand 622637 821167 629743
Total
The credit details of sample households in the area taken up for this
study is given in Table 3.8. As regards credit facilities, a large number of
farmers had taken loans from the institutional agencies. Particularly, 63
percent of the deceased farmers had borrowed from cooperative banks and
30 percent from commercial banks. Out of which, the farming community,
it accounted for 90 percent (Rs. 28, 471) and 10 percent (Rs. 57,000) of the
farming and non-farming purposes, respectively. On the other hand, the
66
farmers used the amount borrowed from commercial banks, it accounted
for 33 percent (Rs. 75,000) and 67 percent (Rs. 2, 01, 667) for farming and
non-farming activities. It is noted that the loan amount from cooperative
banks are used more for farming purposes by the farmers than the non-
farming purposes. Whereas, the amount borrowed from commercial banks,
are used more for non-farming purposes than farming activities by the
farmers.
In case of loans from the non-institutional sources, they have use of

67 percent (Rs. 1,27, 500) and 33 percent (Rs. 2,25,000) for farming and
non-farming purposes, respectively. The number of farmers who have used
them for farming purposes are more than that those who have used them
for non-farming purposes. The farmers have an outstanding amount of
Rs.1, 25,833 and they have to pay the rate of interest of 14 percent. The
farmers have borrowed 20 percent from landlords and relatives. Out of that,
they have used 50 percent of the loan from both the borrowers for farming
and non-farming purposes. The farmers have borrowed the loan of Rs.
6,22,637 and Rs. 8,21, 167 for farming and non-farming purposes and of
which, the outstanding amount of Rs. 6,29,743. This implies that the co-
operative banks and commercial banks the credit facilities than the money
lenders and landlords.
A large portion of the borrowing of the loan by the farmers are mainly
for non-farming purposes like social functions, family expenses, investment
in business. The institutional sources provide the low-cost loan facilities,
repayment facilities and delay repayment in the case of crop failure. It is
noted that the almost all farm household have debts for engaging the
cultivation activities. In times of crop failure, the amount gets accumulated
as debt over a period of time. Generally in rural area, the farmers avail credit
from cooperative banks, commercial banks, money landers and landlords.
67
The victims’ families borrowed more from cooperative banks than the
moneylenders.
The small and marginal farmers of the victim’s households have

mainly borrowed from moneylenders, landlords and relatives. The
cooperative banks and commercial banks demand some kind of formalities
like certificate of owned land, patta certificate and other related documents
for reference to get the small amount of loan. Therefore the victims’
households prefer to borrow from the moneylenders and informal sources.
3.10 Summary

Government should take up the issue seriously and the first step should be
to accept that there are farmers who have taken the extreme step due to
fear of crop failure. They may also set up a process for identifying and
providing suitable relief for their families.
The delta regions are the most affected in the farmer suicides. The
study revealed that nearly a half of the farmers who committed suicide were
in the age group of 60 years and followed by middle age groups. The
incidence of suicide was the highest among the OBC and followed by the
SC. Family tensions are most important causes, while the failure of social
institutions like children’s education and daughter’s and the whole family.
A majority of the farmers committed suicide by consuming poison
(pesticides) and some by hanging.
As for the education of victim, one-third were illiterates and one-third

had education up to the middle school level. Very few of them had studied
up to degree level. It is to be noted that the victims were generally from
families of poor peasants and agriculture labourers. They do not have
68
adequate education and had low level of schooling. They were very poor in
terms of resource endowment. This indicates that the majority of the
farmers committed suicides were marginal and small farmers. The percent
share of area of land holdings are 20 percent, 28 percent and another 52
percent of marginal, small and medium farms respectively. Total owned
landholding works out to 2.52 acres.
Among districts like Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam, it is

found that the water is the fundamental issue as its adequacy is very
essential for the successful farming. However, complete absence of assured
water is the main challenge to be reckoned with. Almost all the farmers in
the delta region depend on Cauvery river water. The farmers face very high
risk and uncertainties if the Cauvery water is unavailable, pushing them
towards depression as there is no other water source either. The access to
irrigation for the farming community in the delta region is very low. The
delta region seldom got sufficient water during this year.
The percentage share of agriculture income, dairy and animal

husbandry are 72 percent and 21 percent, respectively. It is noted that the
income-generating capacity of the agriculture sector in very low. The
victims’ family did not have adequate income due to dry situation of the
cultivation area. The share of food and non-food spending are 72 percent
and 28 percent, respectively. The total surplus of the income per
households are estimated to be Rs. 37, 726 per annum. A comparative
study of the incomes of the agricultural and the salaried class, reveals that
the farming communities’ incomes are very low. This is a true position in
the state. It implies that one-third of the income is spent for their own
expenditure.
It is noted that paddy and cotton have a dominant share in the

cultivation during kharif season. During rabi seasons, paddy, cotton and
groundnuts are cultivated with a dominant share. When the two seasons
69
are compared, the gross return and cost of cultivation for paddy crop is
higher in kharif season than rabi season. In the same way, return from
groundnut is also higher compared to rabi season. But the cost of
cultivation from groundnuts are higher in rabi season than khatif season.
During summer season, the majority of the farmers cultivate millets and
green gram. The percentage share of millets and green gram are estimated
to 53 percent and 47 percent, respectively.
A large number of farmers had taken loans from the institutional

agencies. Particularly, 63 percent had borrowed from cooperative banks and
30 percent from commercial banks. It accounted for 90 percent and 10
percent of the farming and non-farming purposes, respectively. On the other
hand, the farmers are used by commercial banks, it accounted for 33
percent and 67 percent for farming and non-farming. It is noted that the
cooperative banks are used by the farmers more for farming purposes than
non-farming purposes; whereas, the farmers use the commercial banks
more for non-farming purposes than farming activities.
They have used 67 percent and 33 percent for farming and non-
farming purposes, respectively. It is noted that they have used them more
for farming purposes than non-farming. The farmers have accessed loan
more from institutional credit than the non-institutional sources. A large
portion of the borrowing have been towards expending on non-farming
purposes like social functions, family expenses, investment in business.
The institutional sources provide the low-cost loan facilities, repayment
facilities and delay repayment in the case of crop failure. It is noted that
almost all farmers have debts for engaging the cultivation activities. The
amount get accumulated as debt over a period of time due to failure of crop.
The victims’ families borrowed more from cooperative banks than the
moneylenders.
70
Chapter IV
Causes and Consequences of Suicide based on Primary
Survey
4.1 Introduction
The farmer suicides are one of the most serious tragedies in the recent
decades. They reflect the crisis of survival faced by Indian peasants. The
suicides are the result of socio-political and economic factors of the country.
These are three main determining factors of any suicide case. However,
there are several other factors involved in these suicides by farmers such
as monsoon failure, high debt burdens, genetically modified crops,
government policies, public mental health, personal issues, pressure from
credit agencies for repayment of loan, poor marketing system, inherited
poverty of farm families, weak psychological strength, crop failure, lack of
government protection for farmers and family problems. The policymakers
and scholars have made note of these conflicting reasons for farmer
suicides.
The agricultural sector shows significant variation across India. This

sector is the source of livelihood for a large number of people in rural areas.
The government should ensure their needs for sustainability and better
livelihood. There are 18.20 crore cultivators and agricultural workers in
India (Population Census, 2011) which meets demand of industrial goods.
However, the risks and uncertainty involved in the agricultural sector after
the economic reforms in 1990s remain unresolved. After the nationalisation
of banks in India in 1969, the government had introduced policy initiatives
for farmers. Subsequently, the role of moneylenders in rural credit
decreased from 75 per cent in 1951–1961 to 25 per cent in 1991. After the
1990s economic reforms there has been a steady decline in the share of
government sector with respect to rural credit. The share of public sector
banks in rural credit is declining consistently from 15.3 per cent in 1987 to
71
8.4 per cent in 2006. In the same manner, the share of rural deposits has
also declined from 15. 5 per cent in 1990 to 10.8 per cent in 2006. The
Narasimham Committee (1992) on financial reforms recommendations
stated that their priority was lending a helping hand to the agricultural
sector.
The farmer’s livelihood is severely affected owing to the rise in debt.

This, in turn, affects economic activity and leads to negative economy. Two
crucial factors in the change of economic activity are the rising of costs of
production and the falling prices of farm commodities which have forced
farmers to change their agricultural activities from one with a positive
outlook to a negative pessimistic economy. These factors are a direct
upshot of the trade liberalisation policies and corporate globalisation. Apart
from these, the intense fall in prices of farm produce adds pressure on the
farmers which is an offshoot of World Trade Organization’s [WTO] free trade
policies.
After the economic reforms, the rural financial sectors are immensely
disrupted by implementation of certain norms. These norms do not take
any ground realities of the rural economy into consideration. The
agricultural finance involves risks to be taken. This leads to the decline in
share of small and marginal farmers in total credit flow when the share of
these farmers in operational holdings over the period increased. The real
challenge of the present situation is indebtedness. It is the prime cause of
farmer suicide in most relevant policy issues. The Situation Assessment
Surveys of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO, 2013) have
reconfirmed the worsening situation of farm households which indicated,
that, about 51.9 per cent of the farm households in India are indebted.
Indebtedness is highest in Andhra Pradesh (93 per cent), followed by
Telangana (89 per cent), Tamil Nadu (82 per cent), Karnataka (77 per cent)
and Rajasthan (62 per cent). It is to be noted that NSSO in its 59th round
72
survey has revealed, that, given the choice, 40 per cent farmers will quit
farming because it is not profitable, risky and lacks social status (NSSO,
2005). Interestingly, indebted farmers have taken higher credit from
institutional sources (60 per cent) as compared to the non-institutional
sources (40 per cent) (NSSO, 2013).
According to All India Debt and Investment Survey 2013 (70th Round
Survey of NSSO) incidence of indebtedness (IOI) among cultivators was as
high as 46 per cent with asset-debt ratio of 2.5. The IOI has reached an
alarming 74 per cent in Telangana, followed by Maharashtra (56 per cent)
and Karnataka (55 per cent). Majority of farmers are neck-deep in debt.
Once asset-debt balance is disturbed, mainly due to crop failure, farmers
feel helpless and look for relief from indebtedness.
A glimpse at the IOI reveals that the percentages of household’s debt

are from institutional and non-institutional lending. According to the NSS
data, 27 per cent of the rural households were indebted in 2002 and the
number has gone up to 31 per cent in 2013. There is variation in IOI at the
state level in India. Among the various states, Telangana has recorded the
highest IOI with 59 per cent of rural households submerged in debt.
Maharashtra is recorded to have 31 per cent of IOI cases. Bihar and Uttar
Pradesh are very close to the national average at 29.1 and 29.6 per cent
respectively (Shamika Ravi, 2015).
According to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural

Development (NABARD) Report (2014), the flow of credit has seen an
impressive tenfold increase during 2000–2001 and 2011–2012. The credit
is distributed to 28 lakh crore peasants during the same period. During
Twelfth Five Year Plan Period (2012–2017), the amount of credit has
increased from 35 to 42 crore. The number of farm households is 14 crore
in India, of which, only half the farmers are covered by banking institutions.
The remaining resort to informal money lending sources or self-financing.
73
During 2013, the percentage of institutional and non-institutional
contributing credit in India is 64 per cent and 36 per cent, respectively. The
percentage of institutional agricultural credit has increased from 10.2 per
cent in 1951 to 64 per cent in 2013. Whereas non-institutional agricultural
credit has declined from 90 per cent to 36 per cent during the same period.
With regard to institutional agricultural credit commercial banks have a
predominant share. The share has increased from 4 per cent to 31 per cent
and cooperative societies and banks have also increased from 6.2 per cent
to 29 per cent. On the other hand, government contribution to farmers in
terms of agricultural credit has declined from 6.2 per cent in 1961 to 1.3
per cent in 2013. In the case of non-institutional agricultural credit,
moneylenders have the highest contribution, the share of which has
declined from 40 per cent to 30 per cent (All India Debt and Investment
Survey, Various Issues, NSSO, New Delhi). Commercial banks are the major
delivery channels, with almost 75 percent share to their credit in the ground
level. The cooperative banks’ share is around 15 percent, while that of
Regional Rural Banks’ (RRBs) is around 10 percent. Commercial banks,
who now take the major load of agricultural credit, show a tendency to
prefer “deepening” over “widening.”
The small and marginal farmers face many obstacles in India.

Particularly, farmers adopting cash-cropping incur a heavy debt by way of
pledging their land for private loan. The loan is used not only for their
capital needs, but also for food, education, jobs for their children, marriage
expenses and healthcare. The source of much of these loans are illegal
private moneylenders. The heavy indebtedness of the male farmers propels
them to commit suicide mainly due to pressures from the rural economy.
There are many complex structural and personal factors that make them
take this extreme step. Many cases revealed the crop failure and endemic
debt are the major causes of suicides among farmers.
74
In Tamil Nadu enough foodgrains are being produced after achieving
bumper harvest last year. Now, the state agricultural sector is at the
epicentre of a huge multi-dimensional crisis. Moreover, with a likely fall in
production, the state is witnessing deaths of farmers by natural and other
causes. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and High Court of
Madras took serious note of farmer’s suicides in Tamil Nadu. Both are said
to be issuing a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu,
Secretariat, Chennai over the reported deaths of 106 farmers within a
month. NHRC called for a detailed report within six weeks and has also
asked for appraisal on the steps taken by state government towards the
same (The Hindu, Chennai, 6th January, 2017).
4.2 Symptoms Observed and Causes of Suicide
Various symptoms were observed before farmer suicides in this area

were taken up for study. Some of the observations with regard to behaviour
before committing suicide are: suicides of the farmers are connected with
his family members, relations with own community, neighbouring
households, consumption of food regularly and sleeping adequately during
night time.
Table 4.1: Symptoms Observed by Family Members before Committing

Suicide
S. Symptoms Enquired Per cent of HH Who
No. Answered Yes to total
1 Was victim mingling with his/her own family member? 70.0
2 Was victim mingling with his/her own community? 73.0
3 Was victim mingling with his/her 73.0
neighbouring households/friends?
4 Was victim consuming food regularly? 80.0
5 Was victim sleeping adequately during nights? 87.0
Source: Field Survey. Data Collected by Agro Economic Research Centre (AERC), University of
Madras
Symptoms observed by family members before suicide in the area

taken up for this study is given in Table 4.1. Out of the various symptoms
observed by family members before farmers committed suicides, 87 per cent
75
of the victim households reported that the victim sleeps adequately during
night time. During night time, no problem was observed. They were reported
to be sleeping without any mental illness. Only a few farmers were worried
about paddy crop failure. Further, 80 per cent of the family members noted
that they take regular food before committing suicides. 73 per cent of the
family members reported that the victim mingles well with his own
community and neighbouring houses without any problem. Nevertheless,
the victim suppresses his worry about crop failure and indebtedness that
has affected family livelihood.
Table 4.2: Social Causes of Suicide
S. Causes Per cent of HH to total sample who
No. answered Yes
As per Respondent As per Neighbours
1 Poverty
A APL 13.0 13.0
B BPL 80.0 60.0
C AAY - -
2 Property Disputes
A Partition of Land - -
B Partition of House - -
C Partition of Income - -
D Partition of Jewelleries - -
E Others (specify) - -
3 Marriage Related Issues - -
A Dowry Related Issues 10.0 10.0
B Extramarital Affairs - -
C Divorce - -
D Love Failure - -
E Others - -
4 Family
Problems/Commitments
A Social Functions - -
B Daughter’s Marriage 17.0 17.0
C Son’s Marriage 10.0 10.0
D Frequent Quarrel among
Family Members
E Others 13.0 13.0
5 Illness 3.0 3.0
6 Drug Abuse/Alcoholic 60.0 53.0
Addiction
7 Gambling/Betting/Chit 27.0 20.0
Fund
8 Fall in Social Reputation 10.0 10.0
Source: Field Survey, Data Collected by AERC, University of Madras
76
Social causes of farmer suicides in Tamil Nadu are shown in Table
4.2. Among other social causes, poverty is the fundamental problem of
farmers. Apart from poverty, the modernisation of agriculture, adoption of
new technology in farming, high cost of cultivation, have had no or less
profit for farmers. Therefore, 80 per cent of the family members reported
that poverty is the main social cause for famers being pushed to commit
suicide. Their desires remain unfulfilled in life. Drug abuse and alcoholic
addiction are other major social causes for farmer suicides. 60 per cent of
the family members reported that drug abuse and alcoholic addiction are
important social problems. Drug affected the family life of the farmers in
areas taken up for this study. A majority of the farmers are addicted to
drinking and this habit creates social and economic conflicts within family
members disrupting family life. Drug abuse is a major health problem and
illness that affects personal life. Drinking habits of farmers reduce their
productive capacity and hence, they do not concentrate in farming
activities.
Gambling and betting are important social causes in the area taken
up for this study. 27 per cent of family members reported that gambling
and betting habits of farmers are the main social causes for disputes in
rural area. The farmers indulge in gambling and betting for recreation which
have spread in the villages taking many forms. This results in addiction
among the famers. The farmer’s life is in danger at times due to debts
incurred by losing in the game and earning capacity is reduced because of
laziness.
Their daughters’ and sons’ marriage is another important social

cause that affects many farmers. 27 per cent of the family members reported
that marriage issues of children affect their social status in the village. The
daughters’ and sons’ marriage is conducted with the savings from years of
income earned by the famers. The failure of crop cultivation impacts their
77
child’s life. Debt associated with marriage was predominant in the area
taken up for this study. Marriage is a source of dispute within family
members as well. In Tamil Nadu victims suffer from mental stress and this
stress is most often caused by poverty and especially, by indebtedness.
Indebtedness and the inability to earn enough to relieve the debt haunt
farmers hurting their sense of self-esteem and self-respect.
It is revealed that the farmer suicides are attributable to social

reasons like poverty, drinking, gambling and daughters’ and sons’ marriage
and dowry related issues. It is found that the social causes for farmer
suicides are more prominent among small and marginal farmers. The small
and marginal farmers have committed suicides due to loss of agricultural
income and indebtedness. There is no alternative source of income for these
farmers. The farmers are not linked to any association which is political,
social, cultural or religious. They lead an isolated life without discussing
their problems with anyone or finding solutions for the same. They do not
receive relief or support from society. Besides, these farmers did not have
extended family connections in the village. They were never relieved from
poverty, drug addiction and other family problems.
The farm-related causes of suicides in Tamil Nadu are shown in

Table 4.3. Among other reasons for failure of crops, the lack of access to
irrigation water is a major cause for farmer suicides in villages. The lack of
access to irrigation water was reported in 80 per cent farmers during 2014–
2015 and increased to 87 per cent during 2015–2016. A majority of the
farmers mainly depend upon Cauvery water system for irrigation canals.
They planted seed through direct sowing method during September and
October, 2016. It is pointed out, that, most of these delta regions distribute
Cauvery water evenly. The water was not distributed this year due to
interstate politics concerning river water sharing. The gravity of the
situation prevailing in states aggravated due to monsoon failure. The impact
78
of this meagre share of irrigation water received from Cauvery River is very
severe. The farmers were hurt by failure to receive Tamil Nadu’s share from
Cauvery. The state received only 66.60 TMC ft. in June to December period,
but actual distribution of water should have been 179 TMC ft. The state of
Tamil Nadu received only one-third of water share from Karnataka
government (The New Indian Express, Chennai, 4th January, 2017).
Table 4.3: Farm-related Causes of Suicides in Tamil Nadu

S. Causes Per cent of HH to total sample
No. who answered Yes
2014–2015 2015–2016
1 Failure of Crop/s
Pests and Diseases 37.0 33.0
Lack of Access to Irrigation Water 80.0 87.0
Others (Ground water) 50.0 40.0
2 Due to Natural Calamities
Cyclone Effect 10.0 -
Failure of Rainfall/Drought 57.0 67.0
Accidental Fire 33.0 73.0
Others (Specify) - -
3 Inability to Sell Output - -
4 Well Failures - -
5 Quarrel between the Victim and - -
Others
6 Expectations of:
Higher Output 53.0 50.0
Higher Prices 70.0 80.0
Loan Waiving 57.0 63.0
Institutional Credit 87.0 80.0
Non-institutional Credit 70.0 60.0
7 Lack of Extension Services - -
8 Delayed Payment/Payment in - -
Instalments for the Sold Output
9 Insurance for Cultivated Crop - -
Almost all these districts have recorded deficient rainfall during this
period as well. There was almost no rain during the paddy, pulses and
cotton sowing season and this resulted in crop failure. The northeast
monsoon in Tamil Nadu recorded 62 per cent deficit, the worst year in over
a century. The state received 168 mm rains, second lowest only to 163.5
mm last recorded in 1876. The most affected districts were Thanjavur,
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Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Villupuram, Pudukottai, Ariyalur and
Cuddalore (The Hindu, Chennai, and 7th January, 2017). These regions
also lacked irrigation facilities. Irrigation is an implicit cause of
indebtedness, as many farmers take loan to dig wells.
Among natural calamities that cause farmers to commit suicide crop

failure due to drought in the region, low level of rainfall and decline of
ground water in the area were predominant. The failure of rainfall and
drought is reported to be 57 per cent during 2014–2015 and it has increased
to 67 per cent during 2015–2016. These districts have faced problem of high
deficiency in rainfall during the same period. According to rainfall data by
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, there has been 62 per cent deficiency
in the Northwest monsoon. As many as 21 districts have recorded a rainfall
deficiency between 60 and 80 per cent, while 10 districts have recorded a
deficiency between 20 and 60 per cent. Deficient rainfall last year in many
districts in general and failure of northwest monsoon in particular, has only
made the situation worse in most districts (The Hindu, Chennai, 7th
January, 2017).
The Northwest monsoon was below normal levels in Ariyalur,

Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukottai Districts. Delta
regions like Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam received low level of
rainfall — 65 per cent, 74 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively. The ground
water levels also receded during this season. There was no water either in
bore well or open well. Therefore, the cultivation of paddy crop is totally
affected. About 40 per cent of the paddy crop in delta regions is affected by
drought. As a result, the estimated paddy production also declined to 50
per cent during this year. It is observed that the monsoon failure and
absence of water flow in Cauvery River as well as irrigation canals has dealt
a severe blow, crippling the farmers who pleaded for immediate and
substantial relief from Union and State government. The crop failure is a
80
major cause for sudden death of farmers in Tamil Nadu. They also fear the
inability to repay crop loans as it has accumulated for three years when
they have seen their crops die due to lack of irrigation facilities. A very
special mention to be made here is that, Cauvery water is the main
distributing irrigation channel for these people. The unavailability of
adequate water from Mettur Dam and water not released by Karnataka
government for vote bank politics have impacted farmer lives and livelihoods
in these regions. The farmers lost their kuruvai (short-term) crops because
of water sharing dispute with Karnataka. As a result, majority of the farmers
are affected from delta districts and surrounding regions. Cauvery river
crisis and failure of northeast monsoon causing drought has worsened the
state economy. The Honourable O. Paneerselvam, Chief Minister,
government of Tamil Nadu, declared all these delta districts as drought hit
area on 10.01.2017.
Among various causes of natural calamities, accidental fire

destroying crops is a major cause for farmers committing suicides. The
accidental fire of paddy crop, cotton and pulses in the areas taken up for
this study have increased from 33 per cent during 2014–2015 to 73 per cent
during 2015–2016. About 40 per cent of accidental fire of paddy crop
happened over this period of time. This high level of misfortunes are
interconnected with lack of water supply from Cauvery River, borewell, open
well and ground water during the current year. This meant that the fires
could not be extinguished immediately. The Mettur Dam opening was
deferred too Cauvery water distribution was not done either. Added to the
disruptions in water distribution, rainfall also declined causing a vicious
circle to emerge.
Crop failure is another reason for farmer suicides. Crop failure is the
ultimate outcome of lack of water availability. The farmers who do not get
adequate amount of water during the rainy season suffer from this outcome
81
mainly. It is noted that the paddy and cotton crop cultivators are most
affected by crop failure due to lack of water during the times when most
needed. Consequently, the farmers suffer from depression. The team
conducting the fieldwork has found most of these causes during their visits
to Ariyalur, Nagapttinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Pudukottai districts.
The paddy cultivation land has become parched and the soil is dry without
any water. Most of the plantation of paddy crop was new and only two
months young at the time of the investigation. These crops were destroyed
by accidental fire and due to the absence of water the misfortune intensified.
As a result, the farmers use other available crops for feeding their own
animals needed for farming, like buffaloes and goat. Out of all the districts
in the delta region, Nagapattinam is found to be the one most hit and
affected. Besides, the fields have turned saline due to seepage of sea water.
In Tamil Nadu, ground water table has been depleting steadily over
the past five years. The alarming signal of such a situation is the impact of
indiscriminate water storage following urbanisation and lack of replenishing
facilities. The ground water has also declined from 50 per cent during 2014–
2015 to 40 per cent during 2015–2016. The farmers have borne high risk
factors digging new bore wells as the ground water table levels were falling
digging additional bore wells to save the standing crop such as paddy,
more where the bore wells yielded water for a few days, as they had to invest
on pipes and pump sets. The settlement of amount invested in these wells
became difficult during the times of crop failure. There was no other source
for farmers by which repayment of the amount could be done. It was a
burden on the farmers as well as their family members and in turn the
entire village.
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Pest and diseases that kill crops is another problem faced by farmers.
Pest and diseases that affected crops were reported to be 37 per cent during
2014–2015 and declined to 33 per cent in 2015–2016. Generally, pest and
diseases is affected by climatic conditions of a particular village
(geographical area). If that disease affects the crops then the whole village
is affected in case it is contagious in nature.
The farming community expects aid from the Union and State
governments in this field. The expectation comprises of higher output,
increased prices of crops, loan waiving, institutional and non-institutional
credit for famers in the area taken up for study. The institutional credit has
declined due to retrenching monetary policies. The farmers could not
receive loans in terms of liquid cash because of demonetisation. The
cooperative societies did not arrange for cash distribution. The total
monetary transaction of farmers stopped for a while due to demonetisation.
During the same period, the farmers suffered additionally due to their
inability in purchasing fertilisers, pesticides neither could they
distribute/receive labour wages. Without liquid cash in the farming sector,
the farming community came to a standstill. Farmers realised that they will
not have access to immediate cash and have to attend to the ailing crop.
There were reports of farmers dying due to helplessness and shocked by the
sudden declaration of demonetisation. The farmers’ expectation from non-
institutional credit has also declined from 70 per cent to 60 per cent during
the same period. The moneylenders and landlords were not ready to give
liquid cash immediately due to uncertainty in rural economy.
Another important expectation of the farmer is higher prices for their

agricultural produces. Higher prices of agricultural commodities is the
main expectation of farmers after demonetisation. It is observed that the
higher prices have been the main goal of farmers for several decades. The
farmers are exploited in terms of prices set for their commodities. Loan
83
waiving is another expectation in the farmer community. This expectation
has increased from 57 per cent to 63 per cent in the recent times. Every
farmer in the delta villages expect their loan to be waived. All the farmers
borrow loans from cooperative society. It is found that nearly three-fifths of
the farmers expect loan waiving from cooperative society.
Cyclone effects also add on to reasons for suicides because of natural

calamity in the area taken up for study. Some of the cotton cultivators are
affected mainly due to cyclone in Punganur, Sithanvalur, Thiruvarur. The
crop insurance launched by central government in January, 2016 was steps
taken to compensate such farmers. About 13 lakh farmers have been
covered against 8 lakh farmers under this scheme last year. Farmers reeling
under the impact of failed monsoon and demonetisation saw this as a relief.
NHRC observed, “There is a need for sincere implementation of the

laws and policies made for the farming sector, especially, the small farmers.
The farmers are required to be brought out of the agrarian crisis, which
have been adversely affecting them since long.” Failure of crop not only
affects the farmers financially, but also puts them under tremendous stress
and mental agony. The entire family collapses when a farmer commits
suicide or expires.
84
Northeast Monsoon Worst in 140 Years, 144 Farmers Dead,
Tamil Nadu Declares Drought
The Government of Tamil Nadu declared a drought on January 10, after
144 farmers ended their lives between October and December. The retreating
northeast monsoon, usually unnoticed in India owing to the singular
importance of the larger southwest monsoon in 2016 was the worst-ever over
the last 140 years, according to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)
records, since 1876. "It is an unprecedented situation," S. Panneerselvam,
Professor and Head, Agro Climate Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agriculture
University, Coimbatore, said. "It has severely affected 21 out of 32 districts of
Tamil Nadu." "Tamil Nadu celebrates Pongal on January 16th," said
Panneerselvam. "It is when the harvest begins, but the yield this time is going
to be the worst the state has ever seen before."
Record-keeping began in 1871, but a worse northeast monsoon, which
sweeps across Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, south of interior
Karnataka and Kerala, between October and December, was recorded in 1876,
making 2016 the year of the second-worst monsoon in 145 years.
On January 5, reservoirs in Tamil Nadu were at less than 20 per cent
of their capacity, cited as the worst-ever for the state. Overall, the northeast
monsoon was 45 percent short of the average for this period, the state worst
hit being Tamil Nadu, where rainfall for the season was 62 per cent short of
normal. Although the southwest monsoon – which waters the subcontinent
between June and September – was classified as normal across India (three
per cent below average), it was 19 per cent deficient in Tamil Nadu.
Hit by shortages from both monsoons, Tamil Nadu, where the winter
crop depends more on the northeast monsoon than in any other Indian state,
reported a 33 per cent drop in the winter sowing of rice, according to latest
crop sowing situation report, updated weekly by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The northeast monsoon becomes active after the southwest monsoon retreats
from the subcontinent. Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur and Thanjavur were the
worst hit districts in Tamil Nadu. “There are 1,35,000 paddy farmers among
the 1,75,000 lakh farmers in the district. Half the farmers have sown paddy
crop, but less than 20 per cent of the crop has crossed the flowering stage,”
said J. Sekar, Joint Director of the Agriculture Department, Nagapattinam.
"Even this mature crop will yield nothing."
85
“Under the PradhanMantriFasalBimaYojana (Prime Minister's Crop
Insurance Scheme), about 1,30,000 (95 per cent) paddy farmers in the district
are insured,” said Sekar. His claim could not be independently verified. "A
premium of about Rs 11 crore has been collected. This will provide a safety
net to our farmers."
The failure of the northeast monsoon was evident across the South of
India except Telangana, where farming is mostly rain-fed and dependent on
the southwest monsoon. With the northeast monsoon failing and the
southwest sketchy, reservoirs in the southern states are in crisis or nearing
one.
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala report
the highest deficits nationwide. Tamil Nadu reservoirs are 82 per cent short of
normal levels, the highest deficit in India currently. While those in Andhra
Pradesh are 53 per cent short, Karnataka 39 per cent and Kerala 37 per cent.
Karnataka declared a drought in 22 districts and some additional talukas in
October 2016; the state has received Rs 1,782 crore from the central
government. All of Kerala has been declared drought-hit. As 2016 ended,
South India's combined reservoir levels were 34 per cent of capacity, which is
22 percentages less than 56 per cent, the average water availability over the
last 10 years.
Tamil Nadu had targeted 14.5 lakh hectares under rice in 2016–2017,
according to the weekly sowing situation report dated January 6, of the
Agriculture Ministry, more than any other state. But no more than 7.18 lakh
hectares had been sown until January 5, which is 3.5 lakh hectares or 33 per
cent, less than the five-year sowing average of 10.68 lakh hectares.
Compared to the first-week-of-January average of 17.28 lakh hectares of
sowing, rice has been planted on 12.74 lakh hectares across India, leaving a
deficit of 4.54 lakh hectares, or 26 per cent.
"Less area coverage has been reported from the states of Tamil Nadu
(3.50 lakh hectare), Andhra Pradesh (0.31 lakh hectare), Karnataka (0.15 lakh
hectare), Telangana (0.13 lakh hectare), Assam (0.12 lakh hectare), Odisha
(0.09 lakh hectare) and Kerala (0.09 lakh hectare)," said the government's
sowing report.
(Business Standard, Chennai Edition, 11th January, 2017)
86
Table 4.4: Indebtedness Related Causes of Suicides
S. Causes Per cent of HH to total sample
No. who answered Yes
2014-15 2015-16
1 Indebtedness:
Institutional and Non-institutional
Due to Crop Loan 67.0 77.0
Due to Farm Equipment’s Loan 27.0 20.0
Due to Non-agricultural Loan 47.0 53.0
Due to Non-institutional Loan 40.0 50.0
2 Due to Pressure from Institutional Sources 67.0 77.0
3 Due to Pressure from Non-institutional Sources 40.0 50.0
(Mainly Moneylenders)
Indebtedness related causes of suicides in the area taken up for study

is presented in Table 4.4. Indebtedness is the instant reason for suicides by
farmers. The farmers avail crop loans from institutional and non-
institutional sources. In rural areas, the cooperative banks, nationalised
banks, moneylenders and friends play a major role in providing crop loan
facilities to farmers. During 2016, most of these districts were generally
drought prone and deficient in rainfall which resulted in the major crisis
causing crop failure. In Tamil Nadu, there was almost no rain during the
paddy-sowing season and this resulted in crop failure. These districts also
lacked irrigation facilities. Irrigation is an implicit cause of indebtedness, as
many farmers take loan to dig wells. The farmers repay some amount from
normal returns of the yield every year.
During 2016, paddy, cotton, pulses and groundnut crops were totally
destroyed in the accidental fire which could not be extinguished due to lack
of access to water. A large number of farmers borrow crop loan from
institutional and non-institutional sources. The farmers do not possess
repaying capacity for these loans. The survival of basic needs becomes
questionable too. The debt accumulation, repayment of previous debt and
meeting family’s needs altogether increases pressure on the farmer. The
crop loan facilities are availed only by members of the cooperative society.
They have adopted tough norms and are not flexible to farming mishaps.
87
The non-members of the society have chosen an alternative way of taking
loans from moneylenders and landlords. They lend money at a high interest
rate and debt accumulates over a period of time once again. Indebtedness
is quite evident in most of the selected districts in this fashion. In Tamil
Nadu, indebtedness is higher compared to the national average due to
availability of informal and formal credits.
It is observed that an important factor for suicides is indebtedness.

The study of delta regions in Tamil Nadu found that a large portion of the
farmer suicides are caused by indebtedness or their relative’s suicide. Debt
makes small and marginal farmers extremely vulnerable to disruptions
such as illness or crop failure as a result of extreme weather or pests. The
seasonal crop loan limits for different crops are inadequate to meet the
higher and increasing cost of cultivation. One should repay seasonal credit
to institutional sources before availing fresh loans for another season.
During 2014–2015, 47 per cent of the farmers reported that non-

agricultural loan is a major cause of indebtedness in rural economy. These
loans have increased to 53 per cent in 2015–2016. The debts are attributed
to personal reasons like children’s educational expenses, marriage,
gambling, illicit relations and expenditure on festivals. The farmers earn
profit from crop cultivation. However, the failure of crops and accidental fire
in their farm reduces their possibility of earning income or profit.
Institutional credit follows certain norms and conditions. The

repayment of crop loan and other loans within a period of time is
mandatory. The cooperative society and commercial banks may pressurise
the farmers to settle debt amount. About 67 per cent of the farmers report
that pressure from institutional organisations was a major cause of
indebtedness during 2014–2015. It has increased to 77 per cent during
2015–2016. The cooperative and commercial banks regularly pressurise
farmers to repay debts. The accumulation of debt amount is another major
88
problem to the farmers. The immediate repayment of debt has become very
difficult for farmers. The indebtedness is also because of continuous crop
losses due to inadequate rainfall, drying up of institutional credit for small
and marginal farmers, sharp increase in the cost of production, declining
prices of agricultural commodities, withdrawal of subsidies to agricultural
sector.
For the past two months the farmers are totally devastated due to the
sudden demonetisation of high-value currencies by Union Government. The
government did not take into account the primary agricultural cooperative
societies and district cooperative banks. These cooperative banks are the
backbone of rural as well as farmers’ welfare. The banks were not allowed
to exchange invalid notes from farmers. The savings of the farmers were
invalid because of the demonetisation and therefore they had to resort to
large scale borrowing from private sources. The savings of farmers being
due to invalid currencies led to added amount of debt and new borrowing
for cultivation from private lending sources.
The ranking of the social, farming and indebtedness as causes of

suicides in Tamil Nadu is presented in Table. 4.5. Among the social causes,
poverty is most prevalent followed by drug addiction and alcoholism. It is
noted that poverty, drug abuses and gambling are main social reasons for
suicidal incidents in the villages of Tamil Nadu.
Among the farming related causes, failure of crop has had the major
impact on farming economy as ranked by farmers. This is followed by well
water failure which is another impacting factor on their livelihood. Another
factor is delay in payment for the agricultural commodities sold according
to the ranking put forth by farmers. Indebtedness to the institutional and
non-institutional credits is ranked highest by the farmers under the causes
of indebtedness. Moneylenders pressurise and psychologically harm the
farming community.
89
Table 4.5: Ranking of the Social, Farming and Indebted Causes of Suicides
Social Causes S. Causes Ranking as per
No. Answer
1 Poverty 23.0
2 Property Dispute -
3 Marriage Related Issues 8.0
4 Family problems/Commitments -
5 Illness 4.0
6 Drug Abuse/Alcoholic Addiction 15.0
7 Gambling/Betting /Chit Fund 11.0
8 Fall in Social Reputation 5.0
Farming- 1 Failure of Crop/s 19.0
related 2 Natural Calamities 6.0
Causes 3 Inability to Sell Output 4.0
4 Well Failures 7.0
5 Quarrel between the Victim and Others -
6 Expectations 6.0
7 Lack of Extension Services 7.0
8 Delayed Payment/Payment in Instalments 7.0
for the Sold Output
9 Insurance for the Cultivated Crops 4.0
Indebtedness 1 Indebtedness: Institutional and Non- 19.0
Related institutional
Causes 2 Pressure from Institutional Sources 14.0
3 Pressure from Non-institutional Sources 17.0
(Mainly Moneylenders)
4.3 Impact of Suicide on Family Members
The impact of farmer suicides on family members has been a serious

concern in Tamil Nadu. After a farmer committing suicide, the family is
totally devastated and faces economic and social depression. There is no
alternative source of income for the family members in villages. The family
members suffer economically. It has high social, political and ecological
impact as the farmer’s livelihood is affected. Their young widows have to
earn for the family members and take care of the dependent children and
aged parents. Invariably, children have been forced to discontinue their
studies after such incidents. Generally, family members are ready to sell
their lands at a minimum price for settlement of loans. The small and
marginal farmers are most affected by such settlements. Their young
widows find it difficult to take care of the economic needs of family.
90
In Tamil Nadu, the number of farmer suicides increased because of
growing distress in the agricultural sector. The share of agricultural sector
to the state economy has declined leading to decreased farmer income.
Increasing cost of cultivation, crop failure, crop loss, mounting debt and
mono cultivation in villages have further aggravated the situation.
Therefore, there is no profit for the farmer in this economic cycle.
Table 4.6: Impact on HH Household after Committing Suicide

S. No. After Effect Per cent of HH to total sample
who answered Yes
1 Agricultural activities stop 53.0
2 No earning member 60.0
3 Schooling of the children stop 27.0
4 Land sold 7.0
5 House sold 10.0
6 Other assets sold (Livestock sold) 17.0
7 Postponement of son/daughter’s marriage 40.0
8 Family member/s fall seriously ill 63.0
9 Family member/s under depression 90.0
10 Insecurity in the family 87.0
11 Others (Livelihood affected) 83.0
The impact on households after committing suicide in the area taken

up for study is given in Table 4.6. The impact of the farmer suicides on
family members is revealed by agricultural activities coming to a standstill,
selling of land to pay debts, illness, depression and insecurity. As for the
after effects on family members, 90 per cent of the family members reported
that they suffer from depression due to affected livelihood and poor
economic conditions of the family. Following this, as reported by 87 per
cent of them is the family’s insecure situation in the village. There is no
alternative source of income for them. The family possesses only a small
piece of land without any sources (water or finance) to replenish it. After
this event, the victim’s household is clueless about what to do next. The
family members feel highly insecure because of the sudden loss in a major
source of income because of the death of the farmer.
91
About 63 per cent of them reported that family members fall seriously
ill farmers commit suicide. The family members fall seriously ill due to
physical toil and mental worries. Another important view is that there is no
earning member in the family after such a sudden death. About 60 per cent
fall under this category. A large portion of the family members consist of
female and children. Both of them lack skills in managing farming activities.
In most cases, there are no other earning members among the victim
households in the areas that were taken up for study. A large majority of
the family members are children studying in schools and colleges. They are
not able to search for any employment immediately.
Another important dimension is the standstill agricultural activities

on the land owned by the farmer’s family. About 53 per cent of family
members viewed that the farmers who commit suicide had stopped all
farming activities a short while before the incident because they could not
manage crop activities. The family members resort to other means of
income. The female and children are not fully trained in these operations.
The agricultural activities stop because of these hindrances. The majority
consist of nuclear families. Therefore, the wife of the farmer takes care of
the whole family. As women are not taught to manage cultivation activities,
they sign a land lease agreement, which involves another major risk of
losing the land itself. Some of the family members stop their children from
going to school in the area taken up for study. The children are then forced
to take care of the family for survival. They are engaged in farming activities
thereafter.
Another effect on family member’s life as reported by 40 per cent of

them is the postponement of their daughter or son’s marriage. The farmers
committing suicide affect their sons’ and daughters’ lives, because there is
no financial aid for arranging these ceremonies successfully. The members
cannot even survive the expense through farming operations. The family
92
members have been forced to postpone their son’s/daughter’s marriage
indefinitely. On the other hand, sale of land is considered by few in the area
taken up for study. Land is sold for repayment of debts, medical treatment
and diseases, marriage of children and to continue cultivation in the land.
Their payment of outstanding loans from earlier borrowings was reported
to be the single-most important reason for selling the land.
In 2015–2016, there was severe drought and the consequent crop loss
had a massive effect on farmer’s livelihoods. Delayed repayment of debt due
to crop loss to the moneylenders and relatives are evident in the farmers of
this area taken up for study in Tamil Nadu. Some are experienced and know
how to face crop loss due to drought or uncertain natural causes. The family
members have reported that accumulation of debt beyond their repayment
capacity during a few years was the immediate provocation for resorting to
take this extreme step.
4.4 Suggestions from Families to Avert Suicides in Future
Some of the valued points suggested to prevent suicides in future are

given by family members in Table 4.7. About 90 per cent of the family
members reported that a compensation Rs. 25 lakhs may be given to
suffering families. The large number of small and marginal farmers do not
have enough support to survive farming operations. A majority of the victim
households have not received the compensation of rupees three lakh from
government offices. Only some of the family members got this amount. The
interference of local political leaders makes it difficult to get compensation.
The local leaders gamble with such a situation and use it as a political
trump card and misguide government officials. They are influenced during
the time of filling FIR citing the party affiliation of victim’s household. The
government should take adequate measures to curb interference of local
political leaders in deciding the compensation based on political identities
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of the victims and ensure that the compensation is paid to victim
households irrespective of their political affinities.
Table 4.7: Suggestions to Prevent Suicides in Future

S. No. Suggestion Per cent of HH to total
sample who suggested
1 Cauvery Management Board to be established for 73.0
regulating water dispute
2 Compensation of Rs. 25 lakh to be given 90.0
3 Crop loan amount may be increased per acre 53.0
4 Alternatively, drip irrigation to be introduced 40.0
5 Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) to be created 13.0
at Taluk office
6 Waiving the crop loan taken from cooperative, 60.0
commercial banks
7 Subsidies for diesel, power, fertilisers and pesticides 43.0
8 Water facilities 27.0
9 Social borewell digging in the village 43.0
10 Government job to be provided at least to one from 20.0
their family members
For the study 30 cases from five districts of Tamil Nadu were
collected, only four cases received the compensation worth of rupees three
lakh. The remaining 26 cases have not received any money from the
government, even though the farmers who committed suicides are eligible
for government funds. The government officials, agricultural officials have
not recorded the cases properly with actual facts. They give wrong
information about such cases.
This is followed by the report of 73 per cent who state that the
Cauvery Management Board must to be set-up for regulating water dispute
between neighbouring states. The setting up of management board is very
essential for the farmers in Tamil Nadu. If this board is not set-up, the
farmers of this region will suffer a lot within a short period. The rice
cultivation has declined, indicating a possible famine in the near future for
Tamil Nadu. Otherwise, the government of Tamil Nadu must take the case
up in Supreme Court for solving Cauvery water dispute. The Union
Government has taken adequate steps to set-up Cauvery Management
94
Board for solving this issue. The Cauvery water is birth right of the farmers
in Tamil Nadu. They have the right to utilise this water. The Cauvery water
is not of recent origin, but has been the backbone of Tamil Nadu economy
since historical times. It is cited in ancient literatures written well over 2000
years ago.
Waiving of the loan amount from the cooperative society and the
commercial banks play a major role in the life of farmers. About 60 per cent
of the respondents’ report suggests that the waiving of the crop loan amount
from cooperative society and commercial banks are adequate measures to
relieve the burden from farmers. The farmers are not able to repay crop
loans due to crop failure, shortfall of rainwater and lack of irrigation. The
accumulation of debt is the main cause that leads to more indebtedness.
They are unable to return the final pending amount. The government waive
loans in case of crop failures.
The increase in crop loans from cooperative society and commercial

banks are very essential because of high cost of cultivation and higher
labour cost involved in farming. About 53 per cent reported that the amount
for crop loan may be increased. The input cost, labour cost, seed cost and
machinery cost have also increased over a period of time. The farmers meet
all these costs from crop loan alone. Sometimes, there is unexpected
spending for other purposes and to meet family needs.
The subsidies on diesel, power, fertilisers and pesticides and

common borewell to be dug in villages is essential for improvement of the
farming sector. The government is providing subsidies for various inputs
and common borewell for recharging the receding water level. About 43 per
cent reported that the subsidies on diesel, power, fertilisers and pesticides
and common borewell to be dug in the village involve some of their
expectations from the government. The farmers have also adopted rain
harvesting methods for recharging ground water level.
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4.5. Summary
It reveals that the farmers suicides is attributable to social reasons

like poverty, drinking, gambling and daughter and son’s marriage as well
as dowry related issues. It is found that the social causes for farmer’s
suicides are more prominent among small and marginal farmers. The small
and marginal farmers commit suicides due to loss of agricultural incomes
and indebtedness. There is no alternative source of income for these
farmers. The farmers have no link with any political, social, cultural,
religious association. Therefore, they lead isolated lives without discussing
their problems with anyone. They do not get relief and support from society.
Besides, they do not have extended family connections in the village.
Therefore, they are not able to relieve themselves from poverty, drug
addiction and family problems.
It is found that the lack of access to irrigation water for crop is one of
the major causes for farmer suicides in the area taken up for study. A
majority of them mainly depend upon Cauvery irrigation and canal water
system. They had planted seeds through direct sowing method during
September and October, 2016. The water was not distributed this year due
to interstate politics in sharing river water. The situation prevailing in the
state due to monsoon failure became grave. The impact of even the meagre
share of Cauvery river water being denied. The farmers were deeply hurt by
the failure to receive Tamil Nadu’s share from Cauvery. The state received
only one-third of its share from Karnataka government.
Almost all these districts received deficient rainfall during the same
period. There was almost no rain during the paddy, pulses and cotton
sowing season which resulted in crop failure. The northwest monsoon was
very low compared to normal levels in Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur,
Nagapattinam and Pudukottai districts. The main reason for suicides is
crop failures due to drought in the region and low level of rainfall and
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decline in ground water levels because of the former. Two-thirds of them
reported that the failure of rainfall and drought are the major reasons for
suicides during 2015–2016.
The crop failure had a major impact causing the sudden death of
farmers in Tamil Nadu. They also feared their inability to repay crop loans
as it has accumulated for the last three years. They saw their crops on fire
due to lack of irrigation facilities. Special mention has to make of Cauvery
water distributing channel which is the main source of water for these
people. The unavailability of adequate water in Mettur Dam and not
releasing water from Karnataka resulted in farmers losing their kuruvai
(short term) crop. Consequently, majority of the farmers from delta regions
and in and around this region were affected badly.
Natural calamities and accidental fire of crops are major causes of

farmers committing suicides. Three-fourth of them reported that the
accidental fire of paddy crop, cotton and pulses are reasons for such
incidents during 2015–2016. This high level of mishaps happened because
there was no water supply from Cauvery River, borewell, open well and
ground water table also declined during the current year. The Mettur Dam
opening was deferred. The Cauvery water was not evenly distributed to
reach affected regions. Water distribution stopped and rainfall level declined
to worsen the situation.
Crop failure is another reason for farmer suicides. Crop failure is the
ultimate outcome of lack of availability of water. The farmers could not get
adequate amount of water during these seasons. It is noted that the paddy
and cotton crop cultivators are affected due to crop failure mostly due to
lack of water during the most needed time. Most of the plantation of paddy
crop was only two months old. It was affected by accidental fire which could
not be extinguished due to water crisis. As a result, farmers had to use cash
crops for feeding their own animals: buffaloes and goats. Out of the delta
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regions, Nagapattinam is worst hit and affected district as the field has
turned saline due to entrance of sea water.
the past five years. The alarming signals about the impact of indiscriminate
water usage following urbanisation and lack of rechargeable sources is
finally evident. Farmers take high risk in digging new bore wells as the
ground water table levels were falling due to recurring droughts. About one-
third of the farmers were involved in digging additional bore wells to save
the standing crop such as paddy, cotton, sugarcane, groundnuts, pulses
and gingili. The losses were much more where the bore wells yielded water
only for a few days, as farmers had to invest on pipes and pump sets. The
settlement of this amount was very difficult during the time of crop failure.
There was no source of repayment of the amount in time. It was a burden
to farmers as well as the whole village.
It is observed that an important factor of suicides was indebtedness.

The study of the delta region in Tamil Nadu found that a large portion of
the farmer suicides were caused by indebtedness and sometimes led to their
relative’s committing suicide. Debt makes small and marginal farmers
extremely vulnerable to disruptions such as illness or crop failure as a
result of unfavourable weather or infliction from pests. The seasonal crop
loan limits for different crops are inadequate to meet the higher and
increasing cost of cultivation. One has to repay the seasonal credit to
institutional sources before fresh loans are availed.
A half-portion reported that non-agricultural loan is the major cause

of indebtedness. These debts attribute to the increasing personal reasons
like children’s education expenses, marriage, gambling, illicit relations and
festivals. The farmers earn profit from crop cultivation rarely but failure of
crops and accidental fire in their farm closes all doors of income.
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The cooperative society and commercial bank pressurise the farmers
to settle their debt amount. Two-thirds reported that the pressure from
institutional organization is a major cause for indebtedness. The
cooperative and commercial banks regularly pressurise farmers. The
accumulation of debt amount is another major problem for farmers. The
immediate repayment of debt has become very difficult for farmers. This
indebtedness is because of continuous crop losses due to inadequate
rainfall, drying up of institutional credit for small and marginal farmers,
sharp increase in the cost of production, declining prices of agricultural
commodities and withdrawal of subsidies given to agricultural sector.
Poverty is considered the biggest cause by respondents, followed by

drug and alcoholism, another major factor of suicides. It is noted that
poverty, drug abuses and gambling are the main social reasons for such
incidents in the villages of Tamil Nadu. Failure of crop has a major impact
on the farming economy as ranked by respondents as the third reason. This
is followed by well failure which has also impacted livelihood. Another factor
is the delay in payment for commodities sold, which is another farming-
related cause. Indebtedness of institutional and non-institutional credits
ranked highest among the farmers. Moneylenders are ranked the highest
as they pressurise the farming community. As for the after effects on family
members, majority reported that family members suffer from depression
due to their livelihood getting affected, poor economic conditions of the
family and insecure situation. The family members feel highly insecure by
sudden death of a farmer and loss of major source of income. There are no
alternative sources of income in the village. The families only have a small
piece of land without any water or financial sources to begin farming again.
After this event, the victim’s households are clueless about their next step
in life.
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Chapter V
Summary, Conclusions and Policy Suggestions
As has been observed there has been a consistent increase in the

suicide rates among farmers and agricultural labourers in the rural areas
in Tamilnadu. It is indeed a difficult task to get an estimate of the same.
The department of agriculture, and the Police department, Government of
Tamil Nadu have not recorded the farmer’s suicide cases as of date. There
is also the problem that the victims acquaintances have not reported or
registered the cases attributable to the As well as the rural people are not
reported or registered to the police, unawareness and illiteracy. This is
attributable to the apprehensions about the legal procedures and
processes. Thus availability of data relating to suicides is also scant with
these departments. Most of these estimates are based on incidence of
suicides in Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukottai
districts. These districts show a high tendency among farmers to commit
suicide when compared to other districts of Tamil Nadu.
The farmer’s suicide rate in the distressed districts of Nagapattinam,

fThanjavur, Thiruvarur, Pudukottai and Tirunelveli is relatively high in the
state. Thus, suicide is mostly concentrated in the five districts located in
the central parts of Tamil Nadu. In all these districts, the farmer’s suicide
rate was relatively high. Generally, farmers’ suicide is higher in those
districts which concentrate more on cultivation of food and commercial
crops.
The sudden death of farmers in the wake of imminent crop failure,

fear of inability to repay crop loans, withering away of crops due to lack of
sufficient water particularly in the Cauvery delta region which is dependent
on canal irrigation and non-availability of adequate storage in Mettur dam
in the wake of Karnataka's obduracy are the attributable reasons.
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5.1. Main Findings of the Study
The delta regions of the state have the highest incidence of farmer’s
suicides. The study revealed that 50 per cent of the farmers who committed
suicide were in the age group of above 60 years followed by the middle age
groups. The single majority were Hindus. The incidence of suicide was the
highest among the OBC followed by the SC population. Family tensions is
the most important causes. Further the failure of social institutions like
children’s education and the birth of girl children have further aggravated
the problem. The majority of the farmers committed suicide by consuming
poison (pesticides) as also by hanging themselves.
One -third of the victims were illiterates. A very small proportion had
studied up to degree level. It is noted that the victims were generally from
families of poor peasants and agriculture labourers. They did not have
adequate education and had low levels of schooling. They were very poor in
terms of resource endowment. This indicates that most of the farmers who
committed suicide were marginal and small farmers. The percent share of
area of land holdings are 20 percent, 28 percent and another 52 percent of
marginal, small and medium farms. Total owned landholding works out to
2.52 acres.
The proportion of area under irrigation among districts like

Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam is abysmally low. It is found that
the water is the fundamental issue and its adequacy is very essential for
the successful farming. However, complete absence of assured water is the
main challenge to be reckoned with. Almost all the farmers in the delta
region critically depend on Cauvery river water. When not released, the
farmers face a very high risk and uncertainties and are pushed towards
depression as there is no other water source available. The access to
irrigation among the farming community is very small in the delta region.
The delta region has experienced insufficient rainfall during this year. The
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percentage share of incomes from agriculture, dairy and animal husbandry
are 72 percent and 21 percent, respectively. It is to be noted that the
income-generating capacity of the agricultural sector is very low. The
victim’s families do not have adequate income due to deficient rainfall in the
cultivatable area. The share of food and non-food spending are 72 percent
and 28 percent, respectively. The total surplus of income per household is
estimated to be Rs. 37, 726 per annum. When making a comparative
analysis between agriculture income and salaried the former is very low in
the state as a whole.
It is to be noted that the paddy and cotton crops hold the dominant
share in the cultivation during kharif season. During rabi seasons, paddy,
cotton and groundnuts have a dominant share. When in comparison, the
gross return and cost of cultivation for paddy crop is higher in kharif season
than in the rabi season. In the same way, return from groundnut is also
higher compared to rabi season. But the cost of cultivation from groundnuts
are higher in rabi season than the kharif season. During summer season,
most of the farmers are cultivating millets and green gram. The percentage
share of millets and green gram are estimated to be 53 percent and 47
percent, respectively.
Many of the farmers had taken loans from the institutional agencies.
Particularly, 63 percent had borrowed from cooperative banks and 30
percent from commercial banks. It accounted for 90 percent and 10 percent
of the farming and non-farming purposes, respectively. On the other hand,
the farmers who used commercial banks, accounted for 33 percent and 67
percent for farming and non-farming sectors. It is to be noted that the
cooperative banks are used by the farmers for more farming purposes than
the non-farming purposes. Whereas, the commercial banks, the farmers
access more for non-farming purposes than the farming activities.
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They use 67 percent and 33 percent for farming and non-farming
purposes, respectively. It is to be noted that they use the loans more for
farming purposes than non-farming. The farmers access more loans from
institutional credit than the non-institutional sources. Non-farming
purposes include social functions, family expenses, investment in business
to name a few. The institutional sources provide the low-cost loan facilities,
repayment facilities and delay repayment in the case of crop failure. The
amount increases with the failure of the crop.
The small and marginal farmers who are the victims mainly borrowed
from moneylenders, landlords and relatives. They have small size of land
holding which is insufficient as collateral. The cooperative banks and
commercial banks adopt difficult procedures like producing documents like
certificate of owned land, patta certificate and other related documents.
Therefore, they have adopted alternative sources of credit. The preference
of the victims’ are borrowing more from the moneylenders and informal
sources.
Among social causes, poverty is fundamental problem of the farmers.

A majority of them reported that the poverty is main social cause which has
been further aggravated by modernization of agriculture, adoption new
technology, high cost of cultivation and low profits and incomes of the
farmers. Drug abuse and alcoholic addiction is another fundamental social
cause. Three-fifths of them reported that the drug abuse and alcoholic
addiction is the important social problem. Much of the farmers are addicted
to drinking which creates lot a lot of social and economic problem within
their family life. The drug abuse is one of the main reason for personal
health problem and illness. Drinking habits of the farmers reduce their
productive capacity in their farming and distracts them from the farming
activities.
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Gambling and betting is another important social causes in the study
area. One third of them reported that the gambling and betting habits are
main social cause’s foe indebtedness in the rural areas. During the leisure
time, the farmers engage themselves in gambling and betting.
Again one-third of the farmers reported that they have to spend

exorbitantly. The daughter and son marriage is most important social
causes. One- on their children’s marriages which is a social compulsion.
The daughter and son’s marriage is mainly dependent upon the income
earning capacity of the famers. So, failure of the crops affect the son’s/
daughter’s life. Marriages are source of dispute with the family members.
In Tamil Nadu, suicides are the result of mental stress arising out of poverty
and indebtedness. Indebtedness and the inability to earn enough income
affects the farmers feeling of self-esteem and respect.
The study makes an important revelation that the farmer’s suicides

are attributable to social reasons like poverty, drinking, gambling and
daughter and son’s marriage and dowry related issues. It is found the social
causes for farmer’s suicides are more prominent among the small and
marginal farmers. The small and marginal farmers committed suicides due
to loss of agricultural incomes and indebtedness. There are no alternative
sources of incomes for those farmers. The farmers have no political, social,
cultural and religious linkages. Therefore, they lead isolated lives without
discussing their problems. They are not getting relief and support from the
society. They do not have extended family connections in the village.
Therefore, they are not relieved from the poverty, drug addiction and family
problems.
It is found that the lack of access to irrigation is one of the major

cause for farmer’s suicides in the study area. Most of them re mainly
depending upon the Cauvery canal water system. They were planting the
seed through direct sowing method during September and October, 2016.
104
It is pointed out that, most of these delta regions are distributing Cauvery
water unevenly. The water is not equitably distributed and shared due to
inter-state politics. The gravity of the situation prevailing in the state is
mainly due to monsoon failure. Farmers in Tamilnadu have received only
one- third of their share from the Government of Karnataka.
Almost all these districts have had deficient rainfall during this
period. There is almost no rain during the paddy, pulses and cotton sowing
season which has resulted in crop failure. The North-West monsoon has
failed in Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukottai
Districts. The main reason for suicides is crop failure arising out of drought
in the region and also low levels of rainfall and decline of ground water in
the study area. Two-thirds of them reported that the failure of rainfall and
drought is a major reason for farmer’s suicides during 2015-16.
The ground water level also reduced during this season. There is no
water in borewells and open wells. Therefore, the cultivation of paddy crop
is totally affected. More than 50 per cent of the area is affected by the severe
drought. Thus, the paddy production also declined by 50 percent during
September 2016 to January, 2017. It is observed that the monsoon failure
and absence of water flow in the Cauvery River and the irrigation canals
has dealt a crippling blow. The farmers have pleaded for immediate and
substantial relief from Union and State Governments.
The crop failure is a major reason for sudden death of farmers in

Tamil Nadu. They fear the inability to repay crop loans which has
accumulated for three years. They are seeing their crops on fire due to lack
of irrigation facilities. As mentioned earlier the lack of adequate water in
Mettur Dam and the dispute with Karnataka have further aggravated the
situation. The farmers are losing their kuruvai crop due to the above
reasons. As a result, majority of the farmers are affected in the delta and
surrounding regions.
105
As pointed out earlier, the natural calamities and accidental fire of
crops is the major cause for suicides. Three-fourths of them reported that
the accidental fire of paddy crop, cotton and pulses are main reasons for
this incidence during 2015-16. This high level of incidence occurred
because of drought conditions and non-availability of water in the Cauvery
River, borewell, open well and ground water in the current year. The Mettur
Dam was opened late and the water was insufficiently distributed. The
entire water distribution stopped, coupled with decline in rainfall.
Crop failure is another reason for farmer’s suicides. The crop failure
is the outcome of lack of water availability. The farmers could not get
adequate amount of water during the seasons. It is noted that the paddy
and cotton crop cultivators are affected due to crop failure mostly due to
lack of water during the most needed time. Most of the plantation of paddy
crop is new being just two months and it was affected by accidental fire due
to the water crisis. As a result, the farmers are using their crop for feeding
of their own animals like buffaloes and goats. In the delta region,
Nagapattinam is the worst-hit and affected district and its fields have
turned saline due to entrance of sea water.
the past five years. This is the result of indiscriminate withdrawal of water
following urbanization and lack of rechargeable sources. They is the high
risk of digging new bore wells as the ground water table levels were falling
digging of additional bore wells to save the standing crop such as paddy,
more where the bore wells yielded water for a few days, as they had to invest
on pipes and a pump sets. The settlement of the amount was very difficult
during the time of failure crop. There is no source for repayment of the
106
amount in time. It is burden the farmers as well as whole family members
in a village.
It is observed that the important factor for suicides is the

indebtedness. The study of the delta region in Tamil Nadu found that in the
large portion of the farmers’ suicide, many cited indebtedness as an
important reason for their relative’s suicide. Debt makes small and marginal
farmers extremely vulnerable to disruptions such as illness or crop failure
because of extreme weather or pests. The seasonal crop loan limits for
different crops are inadequate to meet the higher and increasing cost of
cultivation.
Fifty per cent of the farmers reported that the non-agricultural loan
is major causes of indebtedness. The debts were incurred on account of
increasing personal reasons like children education expenses, marriage,
gambling, illicit relations and festivals. The farmers were not earning
enough incomes from crop cultivation. Further, the failure of crops and
accidental fire in their farms aggravated the situation.
The co-operative society and commercial banks pressurized the

farmers into the settlement of the debt amount. Two--thirds reported that
the pressure from institutional organization is major causes of
indebtedness. The co-operative and commercial banks are regularly giving
pressure to the farmers. The accumulation of this amount is another major
problem to the farmers. The immediate repayment of debt has become very
difficult to the farmers. The indebtedness is because of continuous crop
losses due to the inadequate rainfall, drying up of institutional credit for
small and marginal farmers, sharp increase in the cost of production,
declining prices of agricultural commodities, withdrawal of subsidies to
agricultural sector.
107
In the last two months the farmers have been affected by the sudden
demonetization of high-value currencies by Union Government. The
government overlooked the primary agricultural cooperative societies and
district cooperative banks. These cooperative banks are backbone of the
rural as well as farmer’s welfare. The banks did not allow exchange of invalid
notes of the farmers. There is absence of the saving habit among the
farmers, because of their debt and renewed borrowing for cultivation.
It is noted that the poverty, drug abuse and gambling are the main
social reasons for suicides in rural Tamil Nadu. Crop failure followed by
lack of irrigation facilities are the most important reasons. Money lenders
are an infliction on the farming community.
Most of the family members of the victims reported that farmers were
under depression due to the fact that their livelihoods were negatively
impacted by poor economic conditions of the family and insecurity. The
family members feel high insecurity in the sudden discontinuance of a
major source of income viz. the farming which is the only livelihood source
in the village. The family have only fragmented pieces of land without any
irrigation and timely finance. Farmer’s suicides leave the victim’s
households totally clueless and helpless. It is found that they fell
seriously ill with physical and mental worries. Another important view is
there are no other earning members in their families. A large majority of
them are children, school and college going youths. They could not go for
any employment immediately.
Fifty per cent of them stopped their farming activities in the short
term, because lack of manage finance to manage the cropping activities.
The family members including women and children refrained from focusing
on agricultural operations. As women cannot manage the cultivation
activities, they lease the land which forces another major risk of losing the
108
land itself. Some of the family members are withdrawing their children from
schools forcing them to farming activities to augment household incomes.
The inability of the farmers to arrange for grans marriage celebrations

of their children is another major social cause. The family members have
been forced to postpone their son’s /daughter marriage indefinitely. Land
is sold for repayment of debts, medical treatment and diseases, marriage of
children. The repayment of outstanding loans from earlier borrowings was
reported to be the single-most important reason.
The root cause behind the suicides is the fact that farming in Tamil
Nadu has no larger remained financially viable. There are at least three
major reasons why farming in Tamil Nadu has become financially unviable.
They are inadequate irrigation facilities, acute shortage of electric pump-set
connections and inadequate supply of institutional credit.

Government should seriously take up the issue and the first step is to
accept that there are farmers who have taken the extreme step due to fear
of crop failure and set up a process for identifying and providing suitable
relief for their families.
5.2. Policy Implications
Many family members are not disclosing all details about of the victims.
 The interference of the local political leaders makes it difficult to get
the compensation. The local leaders are manipulating the situation
with political cards and misguide the government officials.
 The Government should take adequate measures to curb the

interference of the local political leaders in deciding the compensation
based on political identities of the victims and ensure that the
109
compensation is paid to the victim households irrespective of their
political affinities.
 The Government should give crop insurance to all the farms. The
Government should ensure the crop insurance is paid during the
heavy rainfall season or lack of rainfall seasons.
 If case of crop fire, the government should compensate for it fully.
 The Government should create a separate fund to compensate the

victim’s households at the earliest without any leakage and delay.
 The state government should instruct the co-operative societies to

provide the crop loan facilities to marginal and small farmers with
easy processes and friendly documentation on a priority basis in the
village.
 The government should set up counselling centres in various rural

areas to prevent suicides amongst the farmers. The support of the
agricultural associations should be sought by the government to
identify such farmers in deep distress in quick time and bring them
to the counselling centre. Further, the services of NGOs with expertise
in counselling should also be availed by the government.
 Impact of the present distress conditions would last for several years
amongst the farmer’s families. Therefore, it is necessary to give the
farmers with small holdings long-term relief by way of waiving all
loans taken for agricultural purposes whether from government
banks or private lenders.
 In the case of small and marginal farmers who are the relations of the
victims, they should be given free ration, free education for their
children and free electricity for their houses for the next six months.
This should be done on a war footing.
 The state must start relief operations in drought-hit areas without

waiting for Union’s Government announcement.
 Majority of the farmers who have borrowed from cooperative and

commercial banks cannot repay their loans. The state government
should waive or accept the crop loans.
 The government should allot more funds to carry out desilting of

channels, tanks, lakes and ponds across the Tamil Nadu. The work
must be assigned to farmers and agricultural labours instead of
contractors.
110
 The government should also set up social wells which would benefit
the farming community in future. Since ground water table is fast
depleting, use of social wells should be encouraged.
 The government should construct atleast 100 check dams across

Cauvery and Kollidam, starting from Mettur dam to Grand Anaicut.
This would help to harvest minimum 200 TMC of water. The dams
should be handed over to the farmers and agriculture labours in the
respective areas. Adequate infrastructure facilities should be made
available in the river basin, otherwise, 300 TMC of water would go
west due to the lack of infrastructure.
 The farming community urged the government to waive off all crop
loans availed by farmers from cooperative and nationalized banks.
 The government should ensure that funds are provided during the
time of distress.
 The Union and State Governments should allot more funds in the
budget for the agriculture sector.
 The government should inspect the crop condition and drought

situation. Based on that, the government should provide the relief
measures accordingly.
 The Union Government should set up Cauvery Management Board

without any delay. The gravity of the situation prevailing in the state
due to monsoon failure will further aggravate.. The hurt of the farmers
is the failure on the part of the Tamil Nadu government to demand its
share of the Cauvery water. The state received only 66.60 TMC FT in
June to December, against the requirement of 179 TMC FT. The State
has received only one-third of its water share from the Karnataka
government.
 The government should review the cropping pattern in different parts

of Tamil Nadu. The government should advice the farmers for
adopting new kind of methods of cultivation. The farmers now are
adopting the traditional methods of cultivation without modern
inputs.
 It is also advised to adopt drip irrigation systems and rain harvesting

system in the state. The farmers should change their mono-cropping
pattern to multiple crops based on the agro-climatic conditions.
111
 The banking sector instructed by the government as well as by the
RBI should remove the undue restrictions on farmers by introducing
rigid criteria about season, cropping pattern and the scale of finance.
 The cooperative and commercial banking sector should provide

adequate extension services with crop loan facilities.
 The state government should introduce the Minimum Support Prices

(MSPs) norms for all crops.
 The state government should follow prevailing agricultural marketing

reform acts and regulation. The cooperative societies and banks
needs to be reorganized in an effective and efficient way. Additionally,
the farmers should be informed about prices of the agriculture
produce in different markets at their respective villages.
 The Government should actively encourage the basic infrastructural

facilities such as rural warehouses and cold storage facilities in the
rural areas through Village Gram Panchayats and co-operative
societies.
 Government of Tamil Nadu should also introduce social security

measures so as to improve the standard of living of the distressed
farmers, especially those from the suicide-prone districts of delta.
 The Government should take initiative in projects of soil conservation,

construction of farm-bunds, farm-lakes and wells for the benefit of
farmers using the Employment Guarantee Scheme. This Scheme
could also be used for soil conservation, watershed development,
rainwater harvesting.
 The Government should supply good quality seeds to distressed

farmers. Alternatively, the farmers should also be advised about the
use of the traditional way of seeds collection from the farming
community themselves for their own use.
 The government should ensure crop insurance scheme for all the
farmers.
 The government should make provision for sufficient funds to be

provided to distressed farmers’ families for fodder for their animals.
 The Government should provide adequate grant to all families having

children of marriageable age. Such grants should be provided
through organizations conducting community-marriages.
112
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AERC Research Study No: 160

Farmer Suicides in Tamil Nadu

Dr. K. Jothi Sivagnanam

Agro Economic Research Centre

Farmer Suicides in Tamil Nadu

Dr. K. Jothi Sivagnanam

Agro Economic Research Centre

Dr. K. Jothi Sivagnanam

Research Study Prepared by

Agro-Economic Research Centre

Phone No: 044-25399649, 25365406

Farmer suicides are the burning issues in the political and

Dr. K. Jothi Sivagnanam

Chapters Title Page No.

Farmers Suicide Scenario in Tamil

Socio-economic Profile of the Victim

Causes and Consequences of Suicide

V Summary and Conclusions 100-112

The farmer’s suicide rate in the distressed districts of Nagapattinam,

One -third of the victims were illiterates. A very small proportion

The proportion of area under irrigation among districts like

Manyhad taken loans from the institutional agencies. Particularly,

Among social causes, majority of them reported that the poverty is

Gambling and betting is another important social causes. One third

Again one-third reported that they have to spend exorbitantly. The

It is found that the lack of access to irrigation is one of the major

There is almost no rain during the paddy, pulses and cotton

The crop failure is a major reason for sudden death of farmers in

The natural calamities and accidental fire of crops is the major

It is observed that the important factor for suicides is the

Fifty per cent reported that the non-agricultural loan is major

The co-operative society and commercial banks pressurized the

Most of the family members of the victims reported that farmers

The inability of the farmers to arrange for grans marriage

The study clearly concludes that agriculture related suicides and

 The Government should take adequate measures to curb the

 If case of crop fire, the government should compensate for it fully.

 The Government should create a separate fund to compensate the

 The state government should instruct the co-operative societies to

 The government should set up counselling centres in various rural

 Impact of the present distress conditions would last for several

 The state must start relief operations in drought-hit areas without

 Majority of the farmers who have borrowed from cooperative and

 The government should allot more funds to carry out desilting of

 The government should construct atleast 100 check dams across

 The government should inspect the crop condition and drought

 The government should review the cropping pattern in different

 It is also advised to adopt drip irrigation systems and rain

 The banking sector instructed by the government as well as by the

 The cooperative and commercial banking sector should provide

 The state government should introduce the Minimum Support

 The state government should follow prevailing agricultural

 The Government should actively encourage the basic infrastructural

 Government of Tamil Nadu should also introduce social security

 The Government should supply good quality seeds to distressed

 The government should make provision for sufficient funds to be

 The Government should provide adequate grant to all families

India is a developing economy and it is fast growing economy in the

Further, about 60 percent of the people in India reside in rural areas

In addition to the lack of public support to the agricultural sector,

1.1. Agricultural Development during Green and Post- Green

The Green Revolution was started to increase food production and

Uneven distribution among small and large farmers is apparent in