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International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2018, Volume : 6, Issue : 2
First page : (1680) Last page : (1688)
Article doi: : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.6294

Framers Suicide in Karnataka: Strategies for Prevention

M. G. Kerutagi*, Shweta Byahatti and Pavithra A. S.
Department of Social & Allied Sciences, Cost of Cultivation and Market Intelligence Cell,
University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka
*Corresponding Author E-mail: mgkerutagi@yahoo.com
Received: 28.02.2018  |  Revised: 26.03.2018   |  Accepted: 7.04.2018  

 ABSTRACT

Suicide is a complex, social and psychological phenomenon. There are various economic, social, political, individual and environmental causes of farmer's suicide in India. Belagavi district is purposefully selected for the study because it is treated as miniature of Karnataka state and many of the agro-climatic zones are coming under this district. Primary and secondary data was used in the study. Primary data about socio-economic feature and reasons for farmer suicide were collected from visiting the 20 victim farmer’s families in the district. Secondary data was collected from National Crime Records Bureau report of the year 2015-16. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Objective of the study is to examine the causes for farmer suicide and recommend suitable policies. Study revealed that most of the respondents (80 %) were illiterate and 20 per cent of the farmers have studied up to primary level of education. This indicated that illiteracy was indirect factor that hinders the adoption of new technologies. The study revealed that main reason for farmer suicide in case of all the sample farmers was indebtedness.  The other reasons were failure of bore wells (50 %), which lead the farmers loss due to investment for bore well and low yield due to lack of irrigation facility.  Low productivity of sugarcane and maize (30%), failure of crops (20%), access expenses on inputs (30%), commission by sugarcane sending agencies (20%) and delay in payment of sugarcane bill (40%) were other reasons related to farming. Family disputes (40%), current problem (40%), expenses to hospital (10%) and bad habits (20%) were farmer’s family related reasons. Study suggested that the problem cannot be solved through only subsidies and schemes alone social and spiritual interventions and educating farmers are also essential so that farmer realize that suicide is not the way out they should understand that they need to develop self confidence. Awareness about effects of bad habits is essential to farmers. Study suggested horticultural based multiple cropping activities and Integrated Farming System.

Key words: Suicide, Indebtedness, illiteracy, Crop failure

Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782

Cite this article: Kerutagi, M.G., Byahatti, S. and Pavithra A.S., Framers Suicide in Karnataka: Strategies for Prevention, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.6(2): 1680-1688 (2018). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.6294