NCRB Reveals Alarming Farmer Suicides Under Modi Govt

The plight of Indian farmers has worsened dramatically under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule, as his government’s poor agricultural policies and economic mismanagement have pushed lakhs of farmers into debt, despair, and ultimately, suicide.

According to the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), more than 111,000 farmers in India have died by suicide between 2014 and 2023—a tragic and alarming statistic that points to a deep-rooted crisis in rural India.

The NCRB report reveals that the rate of farmer suicides has remained consistently high over the past decade. In 2023 alone, the state of Maharashtra recorded over 10,000 farmer suicides—the highest in the country. Despite being one of the top agricultural states, farmers there continue to suffer due to financial distress and lack of government support.

A study published in the International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development outlined the main causes of farmer suicides in India:

• Debt burden (38.7%): Many farmers are unable to repay loans taken from banks or private moneylenders, leading to severe mental stress.
• Agricultural distress (19.5%): Crop failures, lack of irrigation, rising input costs, poor market prices, and insufficient government support are driving farmers into hopelessness.

When Narendra Modi came to power, he promised to double farmers’ income by 2022. However, far from improving their condition, the situation has only worsened. Farmers now find themselves deeper in debt, with minimal returns on their produce and rising costs of cultivation.

The much-publicized Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), intended to insure farmers against crop losses, has largely failed in its objectives. Insurance companies often reject claims or delay payouts with complex procedures, leaving farmers helpless in times of crisis.

On average, 31 Indian farmers die by suicide every day. These are not just numbers—they reflect the slow collapse of the backbone of India’s economy: the agrarian community.

While the Modi government showcases a glittering image of “New India” to the world, rural India tells a different story. In villages across the country, especially in states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, poverty, frustration, and hopelessness dominate. The ongoing wave of farmer suicides exposes the dark reality behind the government’s loud slogans of development and prosperity.

Farmers are the backbone of any nation, and their distress signals the failure of the system as a whole. The statistics revealed by the NCRB and other independent studies paint a grim picture of rural India’s condition under Modi’s rule.

If urgent and effective steps are not taken to address the root causes—such as debt relief, fair pricing, irrigation support, and accessible crop insurance—India could face an even deeper agrarian crisis in the years to come.

It is time for Indian citizens, civil society, and international human rights organizations to raise their voice and hold the Modi government accountable. Mere slogans, schemes, and empty promises won’t save lives—real policy change and empathy towards the farming community are the need of the hour.