GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 852

ANSWERED ON:14.08.2012

SUICIDE BY FARMERS

SUMITRA MAHAJAN

(a) whether several cases of farmers` suicide have been reported in various parts of the country during the current year;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise along with the reasons for such suicides;

(c) whether the Government is contemplating to launch any scheme to prevent farmers` suicide in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the details of alternative measures taken by the Government to arrest the cases of farmers` suicide and to release special packages for non-irrigated areas?

Will the Minister of AGRICULTUREbe pleased to state:-

ANSWER

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF

AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

(SHRI HARISH RAWAT)

 (a) & (b): During the current year (2012-13), cases of suicide by farmers due to agrarian reasons have been reported to date in Andhra Pradesh (33) and Maharashtra (118) during 2012 and in Karnataka (01), by respective State Governments. Reasons of suicide by farmers, as reported by State Governments, are manifold which, inter-alia, include indebtedness, crop failure, drought, socio-economic and personal.

(c) to (e): In 2006, Government of India approved Rehabilitation Package for 31 identified districts in the country comprising Andhra Pradesh (16), Karnataka (6), Kerala (3) and Maharashtra (6), which included both immediate and medium-term measures to be implemented over a period of 3 years. Time limit for implementation of non-credit components of the package was extended by 2 years and implementation period of the package ended on 30.09.2011. An amount of`19998.85 crore has been released under this package, as on 30.09. 2011. Government also approved package for development of Kuttanad Wetland Eco-System and package for Mitigation of Agrarian Distress in Idukki district in Kerala, which are under various stages of implementation. Other measures taken by Government to prevent suicide by farmers, revitalize agriculture sector and improve conditions of farmers on sustainable basis include :

(i) Implementation of Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme, 2008, which benefitted about 3.69 crore farmers, involving debt waiver/relief of rs 65,318.33 crore, as per provisional figures.

(ii) Increasing credit flow to agriculture sector to rs 476550 crore (provisional), as of March, 2012, and setting target of rs 575000 crore for 2012-13.

(iii) Providing Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to all eligible and willing farmers in time bound manner to facilitate flow of credit to farmers and increase financial inclusion. Up to March 2012, 11.34 crore KCC have been issued.

(iv) Providing interest rate subvention for timely repayment of crop loan up to rs 3 lakh, whereby effective rate of interest for such farmers who repay their crop loan on time has come down to 4% per annum.

(v) The benefit of pre-harvest interest rate subvention is now available also to small & marginal farmers having KCC for further period of up to six months post-harvest on same rate as for crop loan against negotiable warehouse receipt for keeping their produce in warehouse

 (vi) Announcement of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for identified agricultural commodities every year to ensure remunerative price and increase farmers’ income. MSP of major agricultural commodities has been increased significantly in recent years. Moreover, public investment in agriculture sector has been stepped up through implementation of various schemes such as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Food Security Mission, National Horticulture Mission, National Mission on Micro- Irrigation, Watershed Management, Soil Health & Fertility Management etc.

During 2012-13, `300 crore has been allocated under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana for Vidarbha Intensified Irrigation Development Programme, which seeks to bring in more farming areas under protective irrigation. Also, in view of deficient rainfall situation during Kharif-2012, Government has announced financial assistance under various schemes and other measures for affected States, including enhancement of ceiling on seeds subsidy in respect of cereals, pulses, oilseeds and coarse cereals