Interview Times 
India is an agricultural powerhouse, with agriculture providing a living for a large section of the people. However, during the last several decades, climate change has become an increasingly significant concern, worsening the problems encountered by Indian farmers. Rising temperatures, irregular rainfall patterns, lengthy droughts, and catastrophic weather events have reduced agricultural production, causing farmer despair and an alarming surge in farmer suicides across the country.
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Droughts have become more common and widespread in India as a result of climate change. According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, approximately two-thirds of the country was drought-prone in 2020-2022. Drought-prone states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, which rated 62%, 44%, and 76% of their land as drought-prone, respectively, also recorded significant farmer suicide rates.
Crop failures caused by climate change worsen Indian farmers’ predicament. Farmers endure considerable economic losses when crops fail or yields fall dramatically, making repayment of agricultural debts difficult. Many farmers turn to borrowing from informal sources to cope with financial difficulties, often at excessive interest rates, locking them in a circle of debt and deepening their despair.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, farmers are among the most vulnerable categories in India for suicide, accounting for 15.08 percent of the country’s documented suicides in 2021. While low- and middle-income nations account for 75.5 percent of worldwide suicides, India alone accounts for 26.6 percent. In India, the rural suicide rate is over double that of the urban rate.
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The great stress and uncertainty that farmers endure as a result of climate change impacts can have serious psychological implications. Constant financial stress, along with crop failure fears and growing debts, can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and melancholy. Furthermore, the social shame associated with failing to meet societal standards and repay loans can worsen mental health concerns, driving farmers to the verge of despair.
According to statistics from five states, the rate of farmer suicides was lower in states where MGNREGS offered jobs. According to the data, when the number of MGNREGS work days grows from 50 million to 150 million, the number of farmers who commit suicide decreases from 1,800 to 398 every year.
Negative connections between the number of days and the number of suicide fatalities were discovered in the following states: Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana. ( Source : Down to Earth )
Down to earth
The connection between climate change, agricultural production, and farmer suicides in India is a very complicated and disturbing problem. Addressing this dilemma demands a multifaceted strategy that includes strong climate change mitigation and adaptation plans, increased access to resources and technology, extensive insurance coverage, and improved mental health care for farmers.
