The recent case of farmer suicide in Maharashtra has been brought to the forefront the discussion on farmer suicide in India. On March 12, Kailas Nagare, a state- awardee farmer from Buldhan district committed suicide due to inefficiency of governmental authorities in resolving water scarcity issue. Politicians expressed their deep concern and the media widely publicised the news. But, a question remains unanswered. Why has the issue of farmer suicides remained unresolved for so long?
This incident evokes memories of the tragic suicide of a farmer family in the Yavatmal district, which occurred in the same month of March39 years ago. The recurrence of such tragedies highlights the unresolved issues plaguing farmers over the past three decades. On March 19, 1986, Sahebrao Karpe, a farmer from Yavatmal district, took his life along with his family. That heartbreaking event sparked a powerful farmer movement in Maharashtra. The reasons due to which he committed suicide; unfair prices for agricultural produce, expensive electricity bills and lack of water resources which resulted into deteriorating livelihood have still remained unchanged as seen in the recent suicide of Kailas Nagare and other cases.
According to the 2022 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, 10,881 farmers and agricultural laborers died by suicide that year, with Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana accounting for the highest numbers. Every day, approximately 30 farmers end their lives—a statistic that represents a human rights emergency rather than just an economic crisis. While India is a signatory to global covenants on socio-economic rights, it continues to neglect its farmers.The United Nation has raised concerns on increasing farmer suicides in India, yet there is no dedicated parliamentary session in India or committee by the UN to tackle this issue. Policymakers remain indifferent, blaming suicides on alcohol while ignoring systemic failures—unfair pricing, anti-farmer laws, and climate change. Unlike other professions, farmers lack pensions, pay revisions, or legal forums to address grievances. If they feed the nation, why are they left to struggle alone? The time for justice and real policy change is now.
These experiences emphasize the urgent need for policy interventions and legal reforms to address farmer suicides. This requires dismantling colonial-era laws and enforcing constitutional safeguards that have remained unimplemented since their adoption.
Three anti farmer laws in Post-Colonial India:
During British rule, the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 was introduced to acquire land for public projects like infrastructure. However, this often came at the cost of Indian landowners, who were given minimal compensation. However in post colonial India, the government continues the legacy by bringing the 2013 amendment which has further exaggerated challenges of farmers. Even today, the government can acquire lands of farmers without their consent in the guise of the public purpose. Due to loopholes in the provisions for adequate compensation and rehabilitation, the farmers are fighting legal battles after the acquisition of land.
Then there’s the Essential Commodities Act which has its origin in the World War II era, which lacks a clear definition of what counts as an “essential commodity.” This gives the government unchecked power to regulate prices and impose restrictions, often at the cost of farmers’ incomes. What was once necessary to prevent artificial shortages is now a tool of control, leaving farmers at the mercy of unpredictable policies.
Moreover, The Agricultural Land Ceiling Act was meant to ensure fair land distribution, but in practice, it has only placed unfair restrictions on farmers. While industrialists can own multiple factories and businesses, farmers are limited in how much land they can hold. In Maharashtra, for example, a farmer can own a maximum of 54 acres of dry land or 18 acres of irrigated land. Some argue that lifting this restriction would lead to land grabs, but the truth is, most farmers wouldn’t willingly sell their land—it’s their only means of survival. Instead, a better approach would be to exempt Farmer Producer Companies from these limits, allowing them to pool resources and attract investment without losing ownership of their land.
These colonial laws have left farmers struggling to survive. When their land is taken without fair compensation, when unpredictable policies slash their earnings, and when landholding limits prevent growth, they are left with no safety net. Trapped in debt and despair, many see no other way out—leading to the heartbreaking reality of farmer suicides.
Necessary Policy Reforms:
1. Reassessing constitutional amendments: The government should initiate a comprehensive review of Schedule IX of the Indian Constitution to identify and rectify laws that disproportionately affect farmers. Laws that impede their rights, livelihoods, and access to legal remedies should be considered for repeal or amendment. There is a need to revisit the amendments (1st, 3rd, 4th, 24th, 42nd, and 44th) that restricted Indian farmers’ human rights.
2. Amendments in anti farm laws: Amendments in Agricultural Ceiling Act, Land Acquisition Act and Essential Commodities act as discussed earlier.
3. Increase investment in irrigation infrastructure: In order to assist farmers in reducing their reliance on rain-fed agriculture and enhancing crop yields, the Indian government should enhance investment in irrigation infrastructure. According to statistics examined by the National Commission on Farmers, despite more than 50% of India’s cultivated lands relying on monsoon rainfall, there has been a considerable decrease of 64% in per capita public spending on irrigation infrastructure between 2004 and 2014 (NCF, 2006).
4. Provide mental health support to farmers: Farmers in India who experience stress, worry, or other mental health problems should receive assistance from the government. To lessen the stigma associated with mental health conditions, this may involve offering counselling services, setting up helplines, and supporting awareness campaigns.The US government’s Farmer Stress Assistance Network initiative provides mental health resources, recognizing the psychological impact of agricultural distress.
5. The Urgent Need for Agricultural Tribunals in India: In India, the absence of dedicated mechanisms for addressing farmer grievances within the agricultural sector is a concerning gap. Article 323 B (2) (g) of the Indian Constitution empowers the establishment of Agricultural Tribunals to address these issues, ensuring justice and safeguarding the rights of farmers. These tribunals, functioning akin to courts, would play a crucial role in determining fair prices for agricultural products, rectifying market injustices, providing compensation for pricing errors, and protecting farmers from substandard inputs. By aligning with constitutional values and fundamental human rights, the establishment of Agricultural Tribunals becomes an urgent necessity to promote equity and prosperity within the agricultural sector in India.
A silent cry for justice:
The pain of a farmer’s suicide isn’t just a statistic—it’s a family shattered, dreams buried with the soil, and a silent cry that never reaches the halls of power. How many more lives must be lost before we wake up? The hands that feed us are trembling with despair, yet we continue to look the other way. This is not just their fight; it is ours too. If we still have a conscience, we must act—because a country that lets its farmers die is a country that has lost its soul.
Adv Deepak Chatap (Founder Polilaw Network Foundation and Chevening Scholar UK)
