NEW DELHI: A latest report from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals that in 2023, at least one person working in the farm sector dies by suicide every hour, highlighting the economic stress faced by those in agriculture.
Most of the suicide victims are from Maharashtra (38.5%), followed by Karnataka (22.5%), Andhra Pradesh (8.6%), Madhya Pradesh (7.2%), and Tamil Nadu (5.9%) regions that once thrived on rich agricultural heritage, but are now overshadowed by despair and hardship.
However, the number of suicides has relatively come down compared to the previous year, 2022. But the intensity and geography remained the same.
In 2023, a total of 10,786 persons involved in the farming sector died by 2023, accounting for 6.3% of the total suicide victims (171,418) in the country.
Data shows that out of total suicides, 43% are farmers, while the rest are farm labourers. There were a total of 4,690 farmers and 6,096 agricultural labourers who committed suicide. Out of the total farmers who committed suicide, 4,553 were male and 137 were female.
However, some prominent States and Union Territories reported zero suicides among farmers, cultivators, and agricultural labourers. They are West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Chandigarh (UT), Delhi (UT), and Lakshadweep.
In 2022, Uttarakhand reported zero suicides, but in 2023, it contributed to the suicide count. However, this year, no suicide was reported in Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh, while in the previous year, it contributed.
In 2022, the number of farm sector suicides was comparatively higher. A total of 11,290 persons involved in the farming sector have committed suicide in 2022. It consisted of 5,207 farmers and 6,083 agricultural labourers. Out of the total 5,207 farmer suicides, a total of 4,999 were male and 208 were female. Similarly, out of 6,083 suicides committed by agricultural labourers during 2022, 5,472 were male and 611 were female.
Meanwhile, NCRB reported total of 1,71,418 suicides committed in the country during 2023, showing an increase of 0.3% in comparison to 2022.
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