A recent report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has cast a somber light on the agricultural sector, revealing that 10,786 farmers and farm laborers tragically ended their lives in 2023. A significant portion of these suicides occurred in Maharashtra (38.5%) and Karnataka (22.5%), making them the states with the highest numbers. Farmer organizations have squarely placed the blame on the Narendra Modi government’s agricultural policies, expressing deep concern that decisions like waiving import duties on cotton could worsen an already dire situation, particularly in the nation’s key cotton-growing regions.
Breaking down the grim statistics, the NCRB report indicates that out of the total 10,786 suicides in the farming sector, 4,690 were identified as farmers or cultivators, while 6,096 were agricultural laborers. These farm-related suicides constitute 6.3% of the overall 1,71,418 suicides recorded nationwide in 2023. Gender-wise, male farmers accounted for 4,553 suicides, with 137 female farmers. Among farm workers, 5,433 were male and 663 were female.
Beyond Maharashtra and Karnataka, other states also reported substantial numbers of farmer suicides, including Andhra Pradesh (8.6%), Madhya Pradesh (7.2%), and Tamil Nadu (5.9%). Interestingly, several states and union territories, such as West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Lakshadweep, officially recorded no suicides within their agricultural communities.
Ashok Dhawale, president of the All India Kisan Sabha, critically assessed the NCRB data, pointing out that over 10,000 suicides have been reported in the farm sector consistently for 2021, 2022, and 2023. He argued that this persistent trend underscores a profound systemic crisis that the current government has failed to adequately comprehend or address.
“This crisis is unfortunately poised to deepen,” Dr. Dhawale warned, highlighting that a large proportion of these suicides occur in the cotton and soybean belts, with Maharashtra tragically earning the label “graveyard of farmers,” particularly in its Marathwada and Vidarbha regions. He further criticized the Union government for seemingly yielding to pressure to sign Free Trade Agreements and to what he termed “U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff terrorism.” Specifically, the government’s decision to eliminate the 11% import duty on cotton will likely flood the Indian market with American cotton, threatening to devastate domestic agriculture, including the dairy and edible oil sectors.
Dr. Dhawale also voiced skepticism regarding the accuracy of the NCRB data, stating, “We had raised this concern earlier as well. For example, West Bengal has reported no farmer suicides, which is not true. The number of suicides will be much higher.”
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Dhawale asserted that the Modi government appears to have learned nothing from the ongoing farmer suicides, suggesting that the data holds little sway over their policy decisions. He claimed, “They are wedded to foreign and local corporates.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. You can contact the Fortis Mental Health 24×7 helpline at 8376804102 for assistance.