Lok Sabha Question No. 119 (STARRED), answered on 2018-12-18
Subject: Suicide by Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: DINESH TRIVEDI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 119

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## SUICIDE BY FARMERS

## *119.     SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the details regarding the number of farmers who committed suicide post 2016;
- (b) whether  the  Government  plans  to  rehabilitate  the  families  of  the  farmers  who committed suicide and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has incorporated the suggestions given by the Swaminathan Committee in order to reduce the farmers' stress and suicides; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

- (a) to (d):

(SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 119  DUE FOR REPLY ON 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2018.

- (a): The  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  under  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs compiles  and  disseminates  information  on  suicides,  in  its  publication  titled  'Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India' (ADSI). These Reports on suicides are available upto 2015 on its website. The Reports for the year 2016 onwards have not been published yet.
- (b): State Governments provide relief to families of farmers who commit suicide. As per information  available,  some  of  the  states  provide  relief  to  the  families  of  farmers  who committed suicide are as follows:
- i) Provides ex-gratia relief to the heirs of the deceased farmer. The three norms of eligibility  for  ex-gratia  are  crop  failure,  indebtedness  and  harassment  due  to inability to pay agriculture related loans.
- ii) One  time  settlement  to  wipe  off  loans/  liabilities  towards  rehabilitation  of  the family members.
- iii) Relief  provided  to  the  children  of  the  deceased  get  free  education  up  to  post graduation including hostel facility.
- (c) & (d): The  National  Commission  on  Farmers  (NCF)  headed  by  Dr.  Swaminathan submitted its report in 2006. The major recommendations of the Commission were included in the 'Draft National Policy for Farmers' submitted by the Commission itself in 2006. Based on the 'Draft National Policy for Farmers', the Government approved the National Policy for Farmers (NPF), 2007, which aims to improve economic viability of farming and increase net income of farmers.

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An  Inter-Ministerial  Committee  (IMC),  which  was  constituted  for  preparation  of Plan of Action, identified 201 Action Points from NPF, 2007, where necessary action had to be taken.  Of the 201 number of action points identified, 192 numbers have already been implemented as of date.   Many of the schemes implemented  by Government is as per the NPF, 2007.

Further,  the  National  Commission  on  Farmers  (NCF)  had  recommended  that  the Minimum Support Price (MSP) should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost  of  production.  However,  this  recommendation  was  not  included  by  the  Government then in the National Policy for Farmers finalized in 2007. Government now, based on the recommendation of Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP), has increased the Minimum  Support  Prices  (MSPs)  for  all  notified Kharif  and  Rabi  crops  and  other commercial  crops  for  2018-19  Season  with  a  return  of  at  least  50%  over  cost  of production. This decision of the Government was a historic one as it redeemed the promise of fixing the MSPs at a level of at least 50 percent return over the cost of production as announced in the Union Budget 2018-19.

The  Government  has  been  reorienting  the  agriculture  sector  by  focusing  on  an income-centeredness which  goes  beyond  achieving  merely  the  targeted  production.  The income approach focuses on achieving high productivity, reduced cost of cultivation and remunerative price on the produce, with a view to earn higher profits from farming.

Several  initiatives  have  already  been  taken  among  each  of  the  above  mention strategies which inter-alia include:

- (i) Initiating  market  reforms  through  the  State  Governments  by  amending  the agriculture marketing regime.

- (ii) Encouraging contract farming through the State Governments by promulgating of Model Contract Farming Act.
- (iii) 22,000 Gramin Haats are to be upgraded to work as centers of aggregation and for direct purchase of agricultural commodities from the farmers.
- (iv) Launch  of  eNAM  initiative  to  provide  farmers  an  electronic  online  trading platform.
- (v) Implementation  of  flagship  scheme  of  distribution  of  Soil  Health  Cards  to farmers so that the use of fertilizers can be optimized. In the 1 st cycle 1073.89 lakh Soil Health Cards were distributed & in the on-going 2 nd cycle 673.96 lakh of Soil Health Cards have been distributed.
- (vi) 'Per  drop  more  crop'  initiative  under  which  drip/sprinkler  irrigation  is  being encouraged for optimal utilization of water.
- (vii) 'Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)'  under  which  organic  farming  is being promoted.  North East is being developed as organic hub.
- (viii) With a view to provide better insurance coverage to crops for risk mitigation, Government has launched a crop insurance scheme namely Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) from Kharif 2016 season. This scheme provides insurance cover for all stages of the crop cycle including post-harvest risks in specified  instances.    2,69,69,404  farmers  benefited  by  way  of  payment  of claims Rs.10,482.86 crore during Kharif 2016, 36,52,284 farmers benefited by way  of  payment  of  claims  Rs.5,796.39  crore  during  Rabi  2016-17  and 1,39,83,661  farmers benefited by way of payment of claims Rs.16,967.92 crore during Kharif 2017 under PMFBY.

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- (ix) Under  'Har  Medh  Par  Ped',  agro  forestry  is  being  promoted.    With  the amendment of Indian Forest Act, 1947 Bamboo grown outside forest area has been removed from the definition of trees and a mission have been launched to promote bamboo plantation.
- (x) Giving  a  major  boost  to  the  pro-farmer  initiatives  of  the  Government  and  in keeping with its commitment and dedication for the Annadata, the Government has  approved  a  new  Umbrella  Scheme  'Pradhan   Mantri   Annadata   Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan' (PM-AASHA).  The Scheme is aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce as announced in the Union Budget  for  2018. This  is  an  unprecedented  step  taken  by  Govt.  of  India  to protect  the  farmers'  income  which  is  expected  to  go  a  long  way  towards  the welfare of farmers.
- (xi) Minimum Support Price (MSP) is notified by the Government for certain crops. Giving a major boost for the farmers income, the Government has approved the increase in the MSPs for all Kharif & Rabi crops for 2018-19 season at a level of at least 150 percent of the cost of production.
- (xii) During  the  period  from  2014-15  to  2018-19,  a  quantity  of  93.97  lakh  MT  of pulses  and  oilseeds  valuing  Rs.  44,142.50  crore  were  procured  at  MSP  by various agencies of Government of India.
- (xiii) Bee keeping has been promoted under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) to increase the productivity of crops through pollination and increase the honey production as an additional source of income of farmers.

- (xiv) Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission  has  been  implemented  to  enhance  milk  production and productivity of bovines and to make milk production more remunerative to the farmers.
- (xv) National Livestock Mission has been implemented to increase productivity and genetic improvement of livestock.
- (xvi) Foreseeing  high  potential  in  fisheries  sector,  a  Blue  Revolution  with  multi dimensional activities mainly focusing on fisheries production, both inland and marine is being implemented.

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