Lok Sabha Question No. 4349 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-19
Subject: Farmers’ Suicides and Loans
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Dhanorkar Pratibha Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4349

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## FARMERS' SUICIDES AND LOANS

†4349.  SMT. DHANORKAR PRATIBHA SURESH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  figures  of  3258  and  2305  farmers  committing  suicide  in  Vidarbha  and Marathwada of Maharashtra respectively in the last two years are correct, if so, the reasons therefor;

(b) whether the Government has undertaken any study in this regard;

(c) whether the farmers are taking loans from private moneylenders at high interest rates, if so, the corrective measures being taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) whether the assistance given to farmers in case of crop loss due to natural calamities is inadequate and many are deprived of the same, if so, the reasons therefor and the role of the Government in this regard;

(e) whether loans of big traders were waived off but farmers did not get any loan waiver, if so, the reasons therefor; and

(f)  the  steps  which  are  likely  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  reduce  Government interference in the agricultural produce market?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): 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).  The  report  till  2022  is  available  on  NCRB  website (https://ncrb.gov.in). Reasons for suicides are wide ranging. Agriculture is a State Subject. Ex gratia or relief is provided by State Governments as per State provisions & rules.

(c) to (e):    The government is implementing Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) to  provide  loan  on  concessional    interest  rate  through  Kisan  Credit  Card  (KCC). Farmers receive KCC loans at a subsidized interest rate of 7%. To facilitate this, an upfront interest subvention (IS) of 1.5% is provided to financial institutions. Additionally, farmers who repay their loans promptly receive a 3% Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI), effectively reducing the interest rate to 4% per annum. The benefits of IS and PRI are available for loan limits up to Rs.  3  lakhs.  As  on  31.03.2025,  total  operative  Kisan  Credit  Cards  (KCC)  accounts  are 70,31,236 with total credit extended amount Rs. 85046.18 crore in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra has been implementing Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana since 2016 onwards. In the past 9 years, a total of 1308.32 lakh farmer applications have been insured with more than 797.94 lakh hectares covered under the scheme. For the same period a total of  more  than  Rs.  60,133.20  Crores  have  been  released  by  Govt.  of  India  and  Govt.  of Maharashtra  each  towards  premium  subsidy  for  Maharashtra.  During  this  entire  period farmers share of premium collected stands at total Rs. 5,547.77 Crores and a total claim of Rs.  42,811.59  Crores  have  been  released  by  Insurance  Companies  under  the  scheme coverage, implying that the farmers have got nearly 7.7 times of the amount they paid as premium.  State  has adopted Cup & Cap model (80 - 110) as an alternative risk transfer mechanism from Kharif 2022 onwards.

Besides, the Central Government provides requisite logistics and financial support to the efforts of the State Governments. The State Governments provide financial relief to the affected people in the event of 12 notified natural disasters, from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), already placed at its disposal, in accordance with approved items and norms of Government of India (GOI). However, in the event of disaster of a 'severe nature', additional financial assistance is extended from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure.

(f): Agriculture  marketing  is  a  state  subject.  Government  of  India  has  supported Agriculture  Produce  Market  Committee  (APMC)  with  eNAM,  for  better  price  discovery  by farmers through the digital platform. 133 APMC have been integrated in Maharashtra with eNAM.

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