Wilting Crops...And Lives

Farmers continued to commit suicide, unable to cope with the crisis in agrarian India—the scene was only worse in 2006. 

The suicide toll surged particularly in Vidarbha. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh finally visited Vidarbha in July. "I also come from a farmer’s family and have some idea of the suffering and difficulties of the farmers. But after what I’ve seen and heard here today, I have come to know the extent of the losses of the farmers for the first time, " he said, while announcing a huge relief package — but it failed to stem the tide. Take this month, over five days in December, 25 farmers there killed themselves. Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka introduced measures like interest waivers and a moratorium on farmers’ debt in their states, but failed to find success. Over 14,000 farmers have committed suicide in various states between 2001 and 2006.