THE AGRARIAN CRISIS AND THE FARMERS SUICIDES IN MAHARASHTRA

Madhukar Sanap

“One of the observations frequently made about Indian planning is that it has not given

adequately high priority to agriculture and that is responsible for most of the problems

with which economy is beset”

Decline in the trend growth rate of production as well as productivity

An excessive dependence of a large section of the population on agriculture

Declining size-class of holding and an increasing preponderance of marginal holdings along with poor returns From cultivation indicates that income for farm households is very low.

The neglect of agriculture in plan resource allocation has led to a decline of public investments in irrigation and other related infrastructure.

Supply of credit from formal sources to the agricultural sector is inadequate leading to greater reliance on informal sources at higher interest burden.

Changing technology and market conditions the farmer is increasingly being exposed to the uncertainties of the product as well as factor markets.

Agriculture in Maharashtra varies across the State with its astonishing combination of weather, water and soil conditions; described variously as ‘rough, enduring

Farming in Maharashtra is mostly rain-fed type of farming, which is entirely dependent on seasonal rains. and rocky’, it is traditionally a land of peasants.

The method of cultivation varies across the State depending on the geo-morphological features as well as climatic zones both of which vary across the State.

Crop specialization:

Western Maharashtra consists Sugarcane, Wheat, Onions and other irrigated crops,

Konkan region is famous mostly for Paddy and Fruits,

Marathwada consisting Cotton, Pulses and Oil Seeds while

Vidarbha cultivating mostly the Cotton, Arhar and Soyabean.

Operational holding and area in the State as per Agriculture Census, 2000 – 2001

Size Class (ha) No. of

operational

holdings (’00)

Area of

operational

holding (‘00ha)

Average size of holding (ha.)

1995-96 2000-01

0.0 – 1.0 53,057 26,487 0.49 0.50

1.0 – 2.0 36,056 51271 1.45 1.42

2.0 – 5.0 26,520 77,807 2.99 2.93

5.00 – 10.00 4,873 32084 6.68 6.58

10.0 – 20.0 773 9961 13.13 12.89

20.0 and above 97 3418 39.95 36.75

Total 121376 201028 1.87 1.66

Summary of Major Agricultural Crops in Maharashtra:

Kharif Crops:- Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (Millet), Rice, Cotton, Groundnuts

Rabi Crops: - Wheat, Gram, Jowar

Cereals: - Jowar, Rice, Wheat, Bajra, Maize, Bali, Nachni

Oil seeds: - Groundnut, Sesame, Jawas, Karadi, Mustard.

Pulses: – Dal, Tur (Red gram)

Cash Crops: - Sugarcane, Cotton, Chillies, Tobacco, Banana

Area under agriculture in Maharashtra:

Net Crop Area 17,619,000 hectares

Total Crop Area 22,381,000 hectares

Total Irrigated Area 3,667,000 hectares

Ratio of total irrigated area with crop area 16.4 per cent

Area under Cereals 9,411,000 hectares

Area under Pulses 33, 88,000 hectares

Total Area under Food-grains 12,798,000 hectares

Area under Horticulture 10.14 lakh hectares

Sr. No. Sources of Loan Proportion (%)

A Institutional 83.8

1 Government 1.2

2 Cooperative 48.5

3 Bank 34.1

B Non Institutional 16.2

1 Moneylenders 6.8

2 Traders 0.8

3 Others 8.6

Total 100

Source: NSSO Situation Assessment Survey of Farmers: Indebtedness of Farmers Household, 2003; Report No. 498, 59th round

Vidarbha

Marathwada

The suicide ratio of farmers in Maharashtra increased from 1083 in 1995 to 3337 in 2011.

Farmers Suicides in Maharashtra (1995-2011)

Year Farmers Suicides

1995 1083

1996 1981

1997 1917

1998 2409

1999 2423

2000 3022

2001 3536

2002 3695

2003 3836

2004 4147

2005 3926

2006 4453

2007 4238

2008 3802

2009 2872

2010 3141

2011 3337

Total 1995- 2011 53818

YEAR INDIA MAHARASHTRA

2004 18241 4147

2005 17131 3926

2006 17060 4453

2007 16632 4238

2008 16196 3802

2009 17368 2872

2010 15964 3141

2011 13703 3337

A comparative Farmers Suicide data of Maharashtra in Indian Scenario:

FARM SUICIDES ALL INDIA and MAHARASHTRA Since 2004- 2011

YEAR MAHARARASHTRA VIDARBHA MARATHWADA KHANDESH-

NORTH

MAHARASHT

RA

REST OF

MAHARASHT

RA

2010 3141 1120 1040 540 441

2011 3842 1380 1340 840 282

Division Wise Farmers Suicides in Maharashtra in 2010-2011:

Source: NCRB

Marathwada & Khandesh; New -Epicenter for Farmers Suicide

Liberal Import of Agricultural Products Cutback in Agricultural Subsidies Lack of Easy and Low-cost Loan to Agriculture Decline in Government Investment in the Agricultural

Sector: Restructuring of the Public Distribution System Special Economic Zones Implications on Environment and Climate Change Government measures miserably poor Issues of BT Cotton INCREASE OF PESTICIDE IN MAHARASHTRA DEPLETION OF THE NUTRIENTS IN THE SOIL

An immediate (adequate) compensation need to be offered, on a priority basis

Creation of an insurance safety net

State should look into its extension work in the field of agriculture

State should propagate the alternative low cost organic/natural farming system

Quantitative restrictions should be imposed on import of agricultural products.

Subsidy and concessions given to agriculture but removed in the post-reform period should be restored.

Bank loans should be easily made available to the farmers

The government should augment its investment and expenditure in the farm sector.

There is a need for periodic revision of the procurement prices for farm produce making those remunerative.

The government should revise the policy on Special Economic Zones as it goes against the interest of farmers and the agricultural sector.

Bold steps should be taken to implement land reforms which were not implemented in most States.

“The solution of the problem is not in a few “packages” but in drastic changes in the present

economic policies related to agriculture.”

“In a country where 60 per cent of people depend on agriculture for their livelihood, it is better to become an agricultural force based on food

security rather than a nuclear force.”

M.S.S.

Thank You