Maharashtra Government will shortly issue a comprehensive strategy in the wake of an increase in farmer suicides

The Shinde-Fadnavis government declared on Tuesday that it would soon produce a comprehensive policy to stop the rising number of farmer suicides and step-up efforts to promote agriculture growth and related activities. Eknath Shinde, the Chief Minister, pleaded with the farmers to resist giving in to such a severe threat.

 

By launching a flurry of programmes to boost agricultural productivity, crop diversification, enhance agricultural universities, research and development, farm to the market initiative, and availability of funding, he ensured the government's support. Although Shinde withheld further information, he stated that "the administration is concerned about the farmers' suicides and it would soon come forth a policy to address this issue."

 

Ajit Pawar, the head of the opposition in the state house, asserted that since the Shinde-Fadnavis administration took office, 137 farmers may have died in the state by suicide. This led to Shinde's announcement. Ministers were busy congratulating themselves, he continued, rather than dealing with this disaster and the flooding issue. He reacted angrily to the government's handling of a farmer's suicide by putting a live electricity wire in his mouth because he could no longer handle the weight of the debt and its repayment.

 

The state government's action is crucial in light of the fact that 2,498 farmers committed suicide in the state between January and November 2021 as a result of their anguish. 2,547 indebted farmers took their own lives in 2020. This is true despite the state's consecutive governments' announcements of crop waiver programmes.

 

Farmer uncertainty includes yield, pricing, credit, income, and weather, according to Vikas Ade, an agriculture specialist from the Vidarbha region's Gondia district. The solution lies in the fusion of audacious governmental policy initiatives with civil society involvement.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @AdimulamSweety