An Empirical Study of Economic Distress among Suicide Victim Farmers of Amravati District in Maharashtra

Abstract

Agriculture is the major source of employment and livelihood in Amravati district of Maharashtra. However, farmers are suffered from economic distress and large numbers of farmers are committing suicide in same district. This paper mainly focuses on socio economic situation of suicide victim farmer households of Amravati district. An increasing number of small and marginal operational holdings, rainfed and seasonal nature of agriculture sector have creating many issues in farm sector. The income generated through farming is unable to meeting the consumption expenditure of suicide victim households. A per capita income of more than 54 percent selected suicide victim farmers was found less than below poverty line and 38 percent had maximum double of below poverty line (BPL). Therefore, large number of farmers had taken loan for meeting the expenses of consumption and large number of farmers committed suicide for permanent outcome from the pressure of money lenders and bank officials. Therefore, focus of government should be improve standard of living of farmers by providing easy employment opportunities through extension of subsidiary business and cottage industries than immediate relief to victim farmers.