Farmer suicide numbers declining: Pawar

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar claimed on Tuesday the number of farmer suicides was declining.

The government is focusing on increasing investment in agriculture as well as raising the minimum support price (MSP) for crops,he told Economic Editors Conference here.

It is true this is a serious issue. However,the percentage of farmer suicides is coming down, the minister said in reply to a query.

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Pawar said there were various reasons for suicides,such as loss of crop due to drought and disease.

Increase in MSP and other steps will help improve the situation of farmers. The government is focusing on improving farm investment, he said. Pawar said there were 1,035 cases of farmer suicides in Maharashtra in 2006 due to agrarian reasons. The number came down to 800 in 2008,700 in 2007 and then rose to 740 in 2010 before coming down to 480 in 2011.

So far this year,the number of farmer suicide cases reported (in Maharashtra) is 168.

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