1,500 Farmers in India Commit Mass Suicide

by mtippett | April 16, 2009 at 09:53 am

856 views | 69 Recommendations | 14 comments

I read with horror this morning that over 1,500 farmers in India committed mass suicide after being driven to debt by crop failure.

The crop failures, which took place in the agricultural state of Chattisgarh, were prompted by falling water levels. Nearby forest depletion and poorly planned government dam projects contributed to the falling water level. Combined with the vicious money-lending schemes that are prevalent in the region, many farmers felt that death was the only option in the face of insurmountable debt. Suicides by Indian farmers have been an ongoing reality for years -- Vandana Shiva, an Intent Voice, friend and someone I admire tremendously for her advocacy of the land and its people, wrote an article over 10 years ago about farmers committing suicide due to debt.

But 1,500? To give a more tangible visualization of that number, that’s about four full jumbo jet planes’ worth of passengers suddenly committing suicide. The death toll also does not hint at the countless men, women and children who are still ensnared in these dire situations, and now must grieve the loss of their family, friends and neighbors.

I wonder if these developments will have a major impact on the ongoing elections in India? Below are some videos I found on Youtube relating to farming issues in the area. I don't understand the language so I don't know how pertinent they are but if any local language experts can help with translation please feel free to comment.

4 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

sara star

at 13:27 on April 16th, 2009

Some say GM crop to blame for many India's suicides.

Beguiled by the promise of future riches, he borrowed money in order to buy the GM seeds. But when the harvests failed, he was left with spiralling debts - and no income.

So Shankara became one of an estimated 125,000 farmers to take their own life as a result of the ruthless drive to use India as a testing ground for genetically modified crops.

sara star

at 13:22 on April 16th, 2009

Others blame Coca Cola harvesting the water.

San Francisco: As the summer of 2009 approaches, the village of Kala Dera in north India is bracing itself for yet another season of acute water shortages - thanks largely to Coca-Cola. As it is, accessing water is a daunting task for the villagers of Kala Dera. Kala Dera is located in the desert state of Rajasthan - one of the driest parts of India. Kala Dera has experienced eight years of drought in the last twenty five years! In 1998, the Central Ground Water Board, a government agency, classified the groundwater in Kala Dera as overexploited - declaring that the existing demands on the groundwater were not sustainable. Yet two years later, in the year 2000, Coca-Cola started its bottling plant in Kala Dera. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened next. Groundwater levels dropped dramatically, and wells ran dry, farmers did not have enough water to have successful crop yields, and women now had to walk miles longer just to access potable water. Over 60 villages in the vicinity of the Coca-Cola bottling plant felt the dramatic impacts once Coca-Cola started its operations in Kala Dera.

gerrypopplestone

at 19:37 on April 16th, 2009

Looking for simple 'villans' is really dangerous and often misleading! India's poverty programmes are hugely corrupt (the richer farmers getting the most) - often 90% gets creamed off by officials. Then there is water - there are huge numbers of farmers taking water from aquifers which is not replaced, electicity is free for farmers so some pumps work non-stop, selling to private vendors who then sell to factories or poor people without pumps. India's rural infrastructures are often very poor so farm produce cannot get to markets in time and often vegetables get wasted. Above all, loans by private lenders makes it easy for the creditors to take the land. A huge complex of issues. Above all, agriculture has been 'forgotten' as an important area for investment by the government and some states.

But also, it is important to look at the huge wastage of water pumped by farmers. Often they go in for low value crops using high amounts of water. This is obviously not a good way to ensure profitability. So is Coca Cola the "real" villain?

sara star

at 13:28 on April 16th, 2009

Bharatendu Prakash, from the Organic Farming Association of India, told the Press Association: "Farmers' suicides are increasing due to a vicious circle created by money lenders. They lure farmers to take money but when the crops fail, they are left with no option other than death."

Mr Prakash added that the government ought to take up the cause of the poor farmers just as they fight for a strong economy.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 13:38 on April 16th, 2009

Thanks for this, mtippett.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 13:39 on April 16th, 2009

Thank you for the additional information, sara star.

Jarrett Martineau

at 14:15 on April 16th, 2009

This is truly shocking news. Thanks for this.

Paschen

at 15:39 on April 16th, 2009

Farmer in many countries are at this point where Death seems the only way out, it is a serious problem not taken serious at all.

Some statistic put Farmers as the profession with the Highest rate of Suicides and Accidents as well.

I think Canada statistics of 2008 had the same sort of results as well as some Asian and African Countries and even in the EU the problem persists.

Farmer are the most exploited, abused and miss understood people and profession today.

Barbara McPherson

at 17:34 on April 16th, 2009

The situation in Canada is not so dire, but suicide is a leading cause of death for farmers. Just think of the financial pressure last summer's high petrol costs put on the farmers. People in cities are still(generally) demanding cheap food.

This is a shocking story. Think about the families that they left behind. For every farmer who killed himself there are probably four others in that family now plunged into abject poverty.

QueensHart

at 19:38 on April 16th, 2009

I am appalled. This is something we think could never happen here in America but could it?

I have coffee everyday with my brother who farms our families land.I watch the weather with him every day. It seems lately it is rain, rain and more and then just two days of sun ; not enough time to dry so we can plant. It is unbelievable what they have to do to get a crop out and then it's hail, wind or rain that can destroy it. One year my Father broke down and wept for he still did not have his cotton out of the fields at Christmas time because of weather.

I know that every profession such as fishing, lumbering etc. have families who do this work and know nothing else. It is who they are. If they do not have a spiritual core they won't make it when the rains come or don't.

I must research this story more for it still has not hit me. I just imagine if all the men in our little country town of about 40 farmers would be found dead. It is a horror.

As the young people around here say these days, " I just can't wrap my head around this"

Barry Artiste

at 16:49 on April 17th, 2009

thats friggin horrible to hear!

harringtola

at 19:13 on April 17th, 2009

How very sad. Farming is a very difficult living to make in the best of times. With the issues both in the economy and with the environment it is obvious how such ruthless behavior by those with the money "banks" could have this kind of devastating impact.

djermano

at 08:06 on April 19th, 2009

Sounds like a new war....The war on Suicide. I just can not think people take that route because of perceptions. There is always hope and a new tomorrow.. They need more of God, and faith to overcome the difficulties.

Seems to me...the issue is water. If Gandhi can walk to the Ocean for salt..they can make desalinsation ditches to make fresh water available. And people need to learn to grow things for their own needs, instead of taking huge risks thinking you are going to feed the world. Usually when you have a small acreage, you can grow enough for your own individual needs. This means less stress on a person....and gives a person a chance to really look after their own gardens. I know India has a lot of people...but China does too, and they don't succumb to such nonsense as suicide... They work together and by golly they have more than enough food....in fact they have too much food....that does not get used.

And if it is an energy issue...India has thousands of cows that they do not kill because of religious reasons. That is a whole lot of cow poop....to gather up and use to make methane gas....to use for cooking.

Living in the Countryside is refreshing and much more less hectic in doing things. I would think India should seek religious or spiritual guardians that would be assigned to local areas, to disrupt any such mass suicide undertakings. It is not right to do such a horrible act. It means you are not Indians....

Hope and faith are always assured in Jesus the Lord...our comforter...

Rev. Jermano

Deborah Daniels (not verified)

at 13:47 on April 21st, 2009

I am appalled that I heard nothing about this on MSM, but I did hear about Madonna's fall from her horse and Britany's Canadian show. Maybe Madonna can adopt some Indians.

I would not have heard about it if not for Ingrid Naiman's newsletters. Thank you, Ingrid.

That we can stand idly by while other living beings who are starving are being forced from abject poverty to suicide is unconscionable. Beam me up.

No matter how frugally I try to live, it is never enough to offset the greed and abuse of all resources by so many others. When those whose greed knows no bounds continue to use up all resources at the expense of their neighbors' rights to eat, breathe, live, etc., the sickness has spread too far.