In a recent report from Karnataka’s revenue department, it has been revealed that a total of 1,182 farmers have tragically died by suicide over the past 15 months. The department’s official document cites severe drought conditions, significant crop losses, and crushing levels of debt as the primary factors contributing to these unfortunate events.
The data indicates that the majority of these farmer suicides occurred in just three districts: Belagavi, Haveri, and Dharwad. Specifically, Belagavi reported 122 cases, Haveri saw 120 cases, and Dharwad had 101 cases of farmer suicides during this period.
Additionally, Chikkamagalur experienced 89 farmer suicides, Kalaburgi reported 69 cases, and Yadagiri recorded 68 instances of farmer suicides over the same timeframe. These numbers reflect a broader trend across the state, where out of the 27 districts in Karnataka, only six districts reported fewer than 10 farmer suicide cases each. Unfortunately, the remaining 21 districts each witnessed 30 or more cases of farmers taking their own lives.
In stark contrast, Chikkaballapur and Chamarajnagar each recorded only two farmer suicide cases, the lowest numbers among the districts.
The situation surrounding farmer suicides in Karnataka drew significant attention last September when Shivanand Patil, the state minister for Sugarcane Development and Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC), made a controversial statement. Patil suggested that the increase in reported farmer suicides was directly related to the government's decision to raise the compensation amount for the families of deceased farmers to Rs 5 lakh. He argued that this increased compensation led to a rise in reported suicides as families of farmers who had died by suicide due to financial distress from crop failures and loan repayment issues sought to claim this compensation.
In response to Patil’s remarks, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar took a strong stance against his comments. Shivakumar dismissed the suggestion that the increase in compensation might be linked to a rise in farmer suicides, stating, “Where are the suicides? Tell me. People who commit suicide for their own reasons, can we call them farmers? It’s all false.” His comments reflect a broader debate about the nature of the crisis faced by farmers and the implications of the government’s role in addressing their struggles.
The data also highlights the geographical distribution of the suicides, showing that the majority of these tragic events are concentrated in specific regions, revealing the profound impact of environmental and economic challenges on the farming community in Karnataka.
