TOPIC:Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
5) Discuss the reasons behind farmer suicides in some of the agriculturally most productive regions of India like Punjab.(250 words)
Why this question
Farmer and farming distress is one of the burning issues for India, which witnesses one of the highest farmer suicide rates in the world. However, not only agriculturally impoverished states but also agriculturally productive ones like Punjab are grappling with the situation. The issue is related to GS-3 syllabus under the following heading-
Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.Key demand of the question
The question wants us to highlight and explain the reasons behind farmer suicides in agriculturally productive regions of India.
Directive word
Discuss- we have to write in detail about the given issue- reasons behind farmers suicide in regions which are agriculturally very productive, like Punjab.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– Give a brief description of farmer suicides in India, worst affected states, share of agriculture in GDP and employment etc.
Body– Discuss in points, about the probable causes of farm suicides in agriculturally prosperous regions like Punjab and briefly elaborate each point.
e.g Low per capita land, financial intermediaries, high loan rates, high costs of production and labour, inability to pool up resources, need for hiring labor due to shortage of time, low agriculture products prices and low MSPS, decreasing water tables and increasing costs of pumping water out, economic exploitation by dealers selling agriculture equipment, seeds, fertilizers etc.
Conclusion– Suggest some measures to ameliorate the situation. e.g Waiving off loan of small and marginal landholders, enhancing institutional credit, Zero Budget natural farming etc.
