When Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took deputy commissioners and CEOs of zilla panchayats to task on Tuesday over farmer suicides in the state, his anger was understandable. At least 251 farmers have taken their own lives between April this year and September 9. The main causes for farmer suicides are erratic monsoons, with deficit or excess rainfall causing crop loss or damage, high rates of interest charged by private moneylenders that affect farmers adversely, swindling by middlemen, and vicious debt traps. Various farmer welfare programmes exist, but what they need most is hand-holding in the application of tech for crop protection and sustenance. When Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took deputy commissioners and CEOs of zilla panchayats to task on Tuesday over farmer suicides in the state, his anger was understandable.

Source: Indian Express September 14, 2023 09:44 UTC