808 Maharashtra farmer suicides in first four months of 2019

MUMBAI: Maharashtra has recorded 808 farmer suicides in the first four months of the year. This averages almost seven farmer suicides every single day. The figure is lower by 88, compared to the same four-month period last year, when there were 896 farmer suicides.

Vidarbha region, home to CM Fadnavis, has recorded most farmer suicides this year, with 344 cases till the end of April. Marathwada region, which is facing a severe water crisis, recorded 269 farmer suicides, north Maharashtra 161 and the sugar belt of western Maharashtra 34.

The year 2018-19 has been challenging for farmers, with 42% of talukas in Maharashtra facing a severe drought. The crisis has impacted 60% of the state’s farmers.


Maharashtra had declared a loan waiver in 2017, the scope of which had been extended after farmer marches. Earlier, the Centre also announced the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, an income support of Rs 6,000 for small and marginal farmers. Farmer leaders say that a delayed monsoon would worsen the long-term agrarian crisis. “The most critical issue now is the drought and the water crisis, which have destroyed crops and reduced milk yield. A delayed monsoon will make the fodder crisis worse for cattle,” said Ajit Navale from Kisan Sabha.

“This year, a good monsoon has been forecast and we are expecting a good year for farmers,” said state revenue minister Chandrakant Patil.