The document discusses the agrarian crisis and farmer suicides in Maharashtra, India. It notes that agriculture in Maharashtra has faced declining growth and productivity, poor returns from small holdings, inadequate credit and infrastructure investment, and exposure to uncertain markets. Vidarbha and Marathwada regions have seen the highest numbers of farmer suicides, with over 3,000 suicides recorded in 2011 alone. The document calls for policy changes like higher crop prices, restricting agricultural imports, restoring subsidies, improving credit access, and land reforms to alleviate the agrarian crisis.

1. THE AGRARIAN CRISIS AND THE FARMERS
SUICIDES IN MAHARASHTRA
Madhukar Sanap

2. “One of the observations frequently made
about Indian planning is that it has not given
adequately high priority to agriculture and
that is responsible for most of the problems
with which economy is beset”

3.  Decline in the trend growth rate of production as well as productivity
 An excessive dependence of a large section of the population on
agriculture
 Declining size-class of holding and an increasing preponderance of
marginal holdings along with poor returns From cultivation indicates
that income for farm households is very low.
 The neglect of agriculture in plan resource allocation has led to a
decline of public investments in irrigation and other related
infrastructure.
 Supply of credit from formal sources to the agricultural sector is
inadequate leading to greater reliance on informal sources at higher
interest burden.
 Changing technology and market conditions the farmer is increasingly
being exposed to the uncertainties of the product as well as factor
markets.

4.  Agriculture in Maharashtra varies across the State with
its astonishing combination of weather, water and soil
conditions; described variously as ‘rough, enduring
 Farming in Maharashtra is mostly rain-fed type of
farming, which is entirely dependent on seasonal
rains. and rocky’, it is traditionally a land of peasants.
 The method of cultivation varies across the State
depending on the geo-morphological features as well
as climatic zones both of which vary across the State.

5. Crop specialization:
Western Maharashtra consists Sugarcane, Wheat, Onions
and other irrigated crops,
Konkan region is famous mostly for Paddy and Fruits,
Marathwada consisting Cotton, Pulses and Oil Seeds while
Vidarbha cultivating mostly the Cotton, Arhar and
Soyabean.

7. Operational holding and area in the State as per Agriculture Census, 2000 – 2001
Size Class (ha) No. of
operational
holdings (’00)
Area of
operational
holding (‘00ha)
Average size of holding (ha.)
1995-96 2000-01
0.0 – 1.0 53,057 26,487 0.49 0.50
1.0 – 2.0 36,056 51271 1.45 1.42
2.0 – 5.0 26,520 77,807 2.99 2.93
5.00 – 10.00 4,873 32084 6.68 6.58
10.0 – 20.0 773 9961 13.13 12.89
20.0 and above 97 3418 39.95 36.75
Total 121376 201028 1.87 1.66

8. Summary of Major Agricultural Crops in Maharashtra:
Kharif Crops:- Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (Millet), Rice, Cotton, Groundnuts
Rabi Crops: - Wheat, Gram, Jowar
Cereals: - Jowar, Rice, Wheat, Bajra, Maize, Bali, Nachni
Oil seeds: - Groundnut, Sesame, Jawas, Karadi, Mustard.
Pulses: – Dal, Tur (Red gram)
Cash Crops: - Sugarcane, Cotton, Chillies, Tobacco, Banana
Area under agriculture in Maharashtra:
Net Crop Area 17,619,000 hectares
Total Crop Area 22,381,000 hectares
Total Irrigated Area 3,667,000 hectares
Ratio of total irrigated area with crop area 16.4 per cent
Area under Cereals 9,411,000 hectares
Area under Pulses 33, 88,000 hectares
Total Area under Food-grains 12,798,000 hectares
Area under Horticulture 10.14 lakh hectares

10. Sr. No. Sources of Loan Proportion (%)
A Institutional 83.8
1 Government 1.2
2 Cooperative 48.5
3 Bank 34.1
B Non Institutional 16.2
1 Moneylenders 6.8
2 Traders 0.8
3 Others 8.6
Total 100
Source: NSSO Situation Assessment Survey of Farmers: Indebtedness of Farmers
Household, 2003; Report No. 498, 59th round

11.  Vidarbha
 Marathwada

12.  The suicide ratio
of farmers in
Maharashtra
increased from
1083 in 1995 to
3337 in 2011.
Farmers Suicides
in Maharashtra
(1995-2011)
Year Farmers Suicides
1995 1083
1996 1981
1997 1917
1998 2409
1999 2423
2000 3022
2001 3536
2002 3695
2003 3836
2004 4147
2005 3926
2006 4453
2007 4238
2008 3802
2009 2872
2010 3141
2011 3337
Total 1995- 2011 53818

13. YEAR INDIA MAHARASHTRA
2004 18241 4147
2005 17131 3926
2006 17060 4453
2007 16632 4238
2008 16196 3802
2009 17368 2872
2010 15964 3141
2011 13703 3337
A comparative Farmers Suicide data of Maharashtra in Indian Scenario:
FARM SUICIDES ALL INDIA and MAHARASHTRA Since 2004- 2011

14. YEAR MAHARARASHTRA VIDARBHA MARATHWADA KHANDESH-
NORTH
MAHARASHT
RA
REST OF
MAHARASHT
RA
2010 3141 1120 1040 540 441
2011 3842 1380 1340 840 282
Division Wise Farmers Suicides in Maharashtra in 2010-2011:
Source: NCRB
Marathwada & Khandesh; New -Epicenter
for Farmers Suicide

15.  Liberal Import of Agricultural Products
 Cutback in Agricultural Subsidies
 Lack of Easy and Low-cost Loan to Agriculture
 Decline in Government Investment in the Agricultural
Sector:
 Restructuring of the Public Distribution System
 Special Economic Zones
 Implications on Environment and Climate Change
 Government measures miserably poor
 Issues of BT Cotton
 INCREASE OF PESTICIDE IN MAHARASHTRA
 DEPLETION OF THE NUTRIENTS IN THE SOIL

16.  An immediate (adequate) compensation need to be offered,
on a priority basis
 Creation of an insurance safety net
 State should look into its extension work in the field of
agriculture
 State should propagate the alternative low cost
organic/natural farming system
 Quantitative restrictions should be imposed on import of
agricultural products.
 Subsidy and concessions given to agriculture but removed
in the post-reform period should be restored.
 Bank loans should be easily made available to the farmers
 The government should augment its investment and
expenditure in the farm sector.

17.  There is a need for periodic revision of the
procurement prices for farm produce making those
remunerative.
 The government should revise the policy on Special
Economic Zones as it goes against the interest of
farmers and the agricultural sector.
 Bold steps should be taken to implement land
reforms which were not implemented in most States.

18. “The solution of the problem is not in a few
“packages” but in drastic changes in the present
economic policies related to agriculture.”
“In a country where 60 per cent of people depend on
agriculture for their livelihood, it is better to
become an agricultural force based on food
security rather than a nuclear force.”
M.S.S.

19. Thank You