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Change and Development in Rural Society Farmers’suicides B ox 4.3 The spate of farmers’ suicides that has been occurring in different parts of the country since 1997–98 can be linked to the ‘agrarian distress’ caused by structural changes in agriculture and changes in economic andagriculturalpolicies.Theseinclude:thechangedpatternof landholdings;changingcroppingpatterns,especiallyduetoshift to cash crops; liberalisation policies that have exposed Indian agriculture to the forces of globalisation; heavy dependence on high-cost inputs; withdrawal of the State from agricultural extension activities to be replaced by multinational seed and fertiliser companies; decline in state support for agriculture; and individualisation of agricultural operations. According to official statistics, there have been 8,900 suicides by farmers between2001and2006inAndhraPradesh,Karnataka,Kerala and Maharashtra (Suri 2006:1523). Another, and more widespread aspect of the globalisation of agriculture is the entry of multinationals into this sector A ctivity 4.4 as sellers of agricultural inputs such as seeds, pesticides and fertilisers. Over the last decade or so, the government has scaled Read the newspaper down its agricultural development programmes, and ‘agricultural carefully. Listen to extension’ agents have been replaced in the villages by agents the television or radio of seed, fertiliser and pesticide companies. These agents are often the sole source of information for farmers about new seeds news. How often are or cultivation practices, and of course they have an interest in rural areas covered? What kind of issues are selling their products. This has led to the increased dependence of farmers on expensive fertilisers and pesticides, which has reduced usually reported? their profits, put many farmers into debt, and also created an ecological crisis in rural areas. Many farmers, who have committed suicide were marginal farmers, who were attempting to increase their productivity, primarily by practising Green Revolution methods. However, undertaking such production meant facing several risks: the cost of production has increased tremendously due to a decrease in agricultural subsidies, the markets are not stable, and many farmers borrow heavily in order to invest in expensive inputs and improve their production. Suicides of farmers is basically associated with debt, as well as, natural disasters, resulting in the failure of agricutural produce. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Gram Uday se Bharat Uday Abhiyan, National Urban Mission, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and Kisan Credit Card, etc., are 55 some of the schemes of the Government of India, which may provide unified help to farmers all over the country. These schemes are also helpful in providing quality life to rural India. Reprint 2026-27