628 farmer suicides in Marathwada this year

MUMBAI: As many as 628 farmer suicides have been reported so far this year in the Marathwada region, which has experienced the most deficient rainfall in the entire country.

The figure is already higher than the 574 cases recorded in Marathwada by the revenue department in the entire year of 2014 and three times higher than the cases recorded two years ago.

In fact, Marathwada reported a steep 105 farmer suicides in the single month of August with meagre rains destroying large swathes of crops. Faced with growing agrarian unrest, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis undertook a three-day tour of the region, during which he reportedly faced protests by farmers in Parbhani. The Congress and NCP have demanded loan waivers for the region, with the latter threatening a jail bharo andolan.

While Vidarbha reports the highest farmer suicides in the state, cases have been spiralling in the arid zone of Marathwada. This is the fourth successive year of distress in the region. While it faced a drought in 2012 and 2014, the region bore the brunt of hailstorms, which destroyed crops in 2013.

So far, this monsoon, Marathwada has recorded a 53% rain deficit. Water sources are drying up with dam levels down to 8% of capacity. Five of its 11 large dams are at dead storage level and the kharif crop has faced extensive damage.

Out of the Marathwada's eight districts, four—Beed, Latur, Osmanabad and Parbhani—are the worst affected this year. The highest farmer suicide toll of 177 cases has been reported in Beed district. Osmanabad has recorded 98 cases while Latur has reported 61. The district of Parbhani has reported 41 cases so far this year.