Contributed articles.

Contributed articles.

Agrarian distress in the era of globalization has manifested in the suicides of farmers and agricultural labourers. This book, using empirical research and field data from north India, especially Punjab, examines the different facets of this tragic phenomenon in rural India. Situating Indian agriculture in the context of globalization it looks at the underlying causes of farmer suicides in a state that was the model of modern capitalist agriculture and development. It also attempts to understand why other farmers have chosen not to take the same path. With a comparative framework and coverage of nearly 1400 rural households, it brings out the brutal manifestation of this complex and multidimensional situation in the Indian countryside. Topical, comprehensive and rich in data, this book will be valuable to scholars and researchers of political economy, agricultural economics, South Asian politics, political sociology, and public policy.

This volume provides a comprehensive analysis of the macro- and micro-level issues associated with agrarian distress. It analyses structural, institutional, and policy changes, highlighting the failure of public support system in agriculture. The crisis manifests itself in the form of deceleration in growth and distress of farmers. The case studies from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Punjab bring out the diversity of conditions prevalent in the states.

India is among the fastest developing countries of the world. However, a major percentage of its population (60 to 70%) still depends on agriculture and its allied activities. Though many policies have been introduced to enhance its agriculture sector, it still faces a lot of challenges. In recent times the state of Andhra Pradesh, one of the major food grain producing states, has had the highest number of farmer suicides in the country, with Warangal witnessing the highest number amongst the districts in the state. This book attempts to figure out the various socio-economic reasons behind the agrarian crisis prevailing in that district and suggests some remedies to control the situation.

The multi-dimensional nature of farmers' distress in several states of India is pushing farmers to commit suicides. The deficiencies in institutional factors — those related to credit, insurance, supply of inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and marketing —are becoming serious. Social factors such as the non-empowerment of elected local bodies, the exploitative attitude of moneylenders and merchants, and gender discrimination are aggravating the deprivation of small and marginal farmers and landless agricultural labourers. Compounding the crumbling institutional and social support systems are the other factors such as disconnection between research, education and extension organizations and rural realities, land degradation, unsustainable exploitation of groundwater and consecutive droughts. All these resulted in the agrarian crisis, more particularly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat and Punjab. Analyzing some of these factors pertaining to agrarian crisis and farmer's suicides, a pilot study and other articles in this book analytically bring out the prevailing situation in Andhra Pradesh. A few articles in the book also highlight the situation in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Punjab. Some of the implications discussed by the academicians, activists, researchers and others will definitely help the policy makers in their future programme to safeguard and strengthen the livelihood security of the families of resource-poor small and marginal farmers. The book will be of immense use both for the scholars and the government authorities.

This volume is the twelfth in the series ‘Land Reforms in India’. The essays in this volume bring out the multi-dimensional aspects of the agrarian crisis, and its impact on farmers’ suicides leading to public policy. A distinctive feature of this collection is its holistic approach towards viewing farm sector distress, instead of looking for isolated causes and solutions.