Citation:

T. Amol, Dr. D. Satyanarayana, Dr. K. Srivani. "A Scoping Review on Causes and Consequences of Farmer Suicides in India" International Research Journal of Economics and Management Studies, Vol. 4, No. 9, pp. 166-169, 2025. Crossref. http://doi.org/10.56472/25835238/IRJEMS-V4I9P118

Abstract:

A variety of circumstances can induce suicide, and there is empirical data that suggests that farmers in India may be committing copycat suicides, thereby spreading the phenomenon. An increase in farmer suicides is attributed to the unpredictable monsoon, unpaid debt, low crop yields, a poor agricultural procurement rate, and consecutive crop failures. Natural events, including floods, droughts, hailstorms, and uneven rainfall, negatively impact crop production. At the same time, post-yield losses are caused by man-made factors, including price policies and insufficient marketing infrastructure. The repercussions of rural debt are catastrophic. According to the all-India report "Spate of Cases of Suicide by Farmers," government assistance programs are ineffective because they fail to address the predicament of farmers who borrow from private moneylenders. Economically, rural debt has led to the extreme poverty of farmers, particularly those who are marginal or small-scale. Farmers usually suffer losses regardless of the favorable or unfavourable conditions. Since this situation persists, the federal and state governments have not taken adequate action to safeguard farmers and assist them in overcoming these obstacles. Due to the overwhelming strain of repaying their debts and other family obligations, the majority of them went bankrupt and ultimately took their own lives. It also recommends that farmers develop additional revenue streams from non-farming pursuits, such as dairy, poultry, and fishing. In India, farmers are known to have high suicide rates; between 1995 and 2018, 400,000 farmers lost their lives to suicide. Government policy-level measures have followed; however, it's unclear how effective they were. This study examines the body of knowledge regarding the causes and consequences of farmer suicides in India. Used a scoping review to look for empirically supported papers on farmer suicide in India in the literature published between 2000 and 2023. Governments' spending on agricultural infrastructure and flood management, as well as policies that provide farmers with credit, have been linked to a decrease in farmer suicides. The most often mentioned policy-modifiable factors were cash crops, poverty, debt, small farms, low salaries, water and irrigation, and illiteracy. Although numerous regulations have been put in place to combat farmer suicide in India, there is a dearth of evidence proving their efficacy. Further study is required.

References:

[1] Ashalatha KV, Das C. An overview of farmers' suicidal tendency in India. International Journal of Management, Humanities and Social Sciences. 2016 Jan:19-32.
[2] Burmesh and Kamal, 2003. Andhra is a Suicide State, Sahara India: 4-6.
[3] Dutta and Ambarish, 2001. Sufferings of farmers, as reported by the Government of India, in the Economic Survey, 2002-03.
[4] Economic Division, Ministry of Finance and Company Affairs, New Delhi.
[5] Jagan Kanthi (2014), “Economics of Agriculture and Farmers’ Suicides - A Case Study of Warangal District in Andhra Pradesh” Research Abstract, mimeo, Osmania University, Hyderabad
[6] Narasimha Reddy (2014) “Farmers’ Indebtedness and Agricultural Credit Situation in Andhra Pradesh” Draft Working Paper, mimeo, CSD, Hyderabad.

Keywords:

Agriculture, Farming, Farmer, Suicides, Causes, Recommendations.