Bengaluru, December 16 – The state of Karnataka has reported a total of 2,809 farmer suicides over the past three years, according to data presented by the Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy in response to a query raised by BJP MLA Aravind Bellad in the Legislative Assembly.
The number of farmers who took their lives in Karnataka stood at 1,254 in the fiscal year 2023-24, followed by 1,178 cases the following year, as per the data. So far this year, 377 farmer suicides have been reported in the state.
Karnataka ranks second among Indian states in terms of the number of farmer suicides, according to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The state government, however, asserted that there has been a general decline in such incidents over the years.
The Minister did not elaborate on the reasons behind these unfortunate incidents or discuss any measures being taken by the government to address this issue. Efforts to reach out to him for additional information were unsuccessful as of press time.
This data comes at a time when the government is facing criticism from various quarters over its handling of the agricultural sector and the plight of farmers across the country. The issue has gained significant attention in recent months, with several protests and demonstrations being held to highlight the issues faced by farmers.
In response to these concerns, the government has announced several measures aimed at providing financial assistance to farmers, as well as improving infrastructure and implementing direct benefit transfer (DBT) schemes to ensure that funds reach those who need them most.
