Despite a series of measures initiated by the state government, there seems to be no end to suicides by farmers in the state. Unable to bear huge financial losses due to poor crop, mounting debts and other related reasons, 12 farmers have committed suicide in a span of two months this year and 184 lives were lost in 2011 alone reveal reports. The emerging pattern of suicides show that most of them have been committed after the Kharif and Rabi crops between October to December (42) and January-April (82) across all the three regions of the state.
Although the number of suicides has fallen drastically since 2004-2008, when AP took the top spot in the country leading to a series of drastic measures, suicides continue to haunt the state. Kurnool district alone accounted for 11 suicides by farmers this year, six in January and five in February.
“The above deaths are confirmed as per inquiry reports. Some more deaths are under inquiry of the divisional level officers committee. Final reports are awaited,” a senior revenue official said. Farmers’ lives are fraught with risk factors such as, climate variability and change; frequent natural disasters; uncertainties in yields and prices; weak rural infrastructure; fluctuating markets; and lack of financial services including limited span and design of risk management instruments like credit and insurance. “High yields and production is of no use if farmers don’t get remunerative prices for their farm produce. Income levels have to grow to sustain farmers after natural disasters,” says J. Devi Prasad, director, agriculture management group, Centre for Good Governance.