A study conducted by Council for Social Development, a development research institute revealed that in the cotton growing areas, a lack of irrigation facilities, unavailability of timely credit and fluctuation in cotton prices were the key reasons for farmer suicides.
The findings of nationwide study titled ‘Socio-economic Impact Assessment of Bt Cotton’ in India was conducted by council for Social Development.
The study was commissioned by Bharat Krishak Samaj (BKS), a farmer organization, was released here in Bangalore on Wednesday.
Nearly one to four per cent of farmers in states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh reported farm related suicides within their families.
Chairman of BKS Ajay Jakhar said, “As timely availability of institutional credit was a challenge, farmers depended more on non-institutional sources of credit such as money lenders, middle men, relatives and friends.”
Non-institutional credit was easily accessible but had a higher rate of interest.
“This was the main reason for this tragedy. Clearly, the government needs to invest more in agriculture infrastructure,” Jakhar added.