Climate change induced farmers suicides in Vidarbha and Marathwada Regions of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Global climate change has substantial modifications in environmental conditions. This results in an adverse impact on various aspects. Of the various aspects, the impact on agriculture is pronounced. The impact on agriculture will be varied due to the vulnerability of different farmers' groups owing to their agricultural land size, economic and social background. Indian farmers/cultivators and agricultural labourers are committing suicide since 1995. Of the various reasons for their suicides climate change is also one of them. This study was carried out in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra state of India where the maximum number of farmers are committing suicides. A purposive random sampling was carried out in eight districts to identify the sample population (n=230) of marginalized farmers (<1.00 ha. agricultural land). A specially designed and developed interview schedule was prepared to elicit the primary information. In addition, the National Sample Survey’s ‘Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households and Land and Holdings of Households in Rural India, 2019’ was also referred to identify climate change-induced factors for farmers' suicides. The results revealed high seed cost, late or no seed germination, less or no irrigation facility, new insect/pest attack, high fertilizer, insecticide, and pesticide cost, less crop yield, crop failure, no farmers/crop insurance, and not getting minimum support price are some of the other major causes which result into taking a loan from a moneylender with a high-interest rate (60-120% p.a.) results into high debt (average amount of outstanding loan per agricultural household in Maharashtra was Rs. 82,085/-, US $994.24 [54.0%], and all India Rs. 74,121/-, US $897.78 [50.2%]). These causes result in a vicious cycle in which farmers got entrapped for several years as a result of which they had a mental or emotional disorder and under its influence they commit suicide. Climate change-induced debt is identified as the cause of farmers’ suicide in India. The cotton belt is identified as a suicide belt in India. The central and state government have to understand this issue from this dimension also and need to take proactive action suitably to break this vicious cycle and free the farmers from the trap to transform them from subsistence farming to sustainable farming and leverage their life to lead a dignified life and pave a way for a sustainable society and sustainable development at large.