In the villages of India, farmer suicides are spoken about in whispers. Not because people don’t care, but because the pain is too deep. A farmer does not choose death easily. It comes after months of worry, sleepless nights, and the feeling that there is no way out.
For many farmers, farming is not just work. It is family tradition, identity, and pride. But today, it has become a source of constant fear. Weather has become unpredictable. Costs of seeds, fertilizers, and fuel keep rising. Crop prices fall without warning. When earnings fail and loans remain, pressure slowly turns into despair.
Ten Years of Silent Loss
In the last ten years, more than 1.1 lakh farmers and agricultural workers have died by suicide in India. These are not just numbers on paper. These are fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. Each death leaves behind a family struggling not only with grief but also with debt and uncertainty.
Debt That Never Ends
Most farmers borrow with hope — hope that the next crop will be better. But when crops fail due to drought, floods, or pests, debt does not disappear. Many farmers depend on private moneylenders who charge high interest. With no stable income and constant pressure, mental stress becomes unbearable.
Promises Heard, Relief Not Felt
Political promises are often loud, especially before elections. Loan waivers and compensation schemes are announced as solutions. For some, they help briefly. For many others, nothing changes. Minimum Support Price is discussed on television, but in real markets, farmers sell crops at prices that don’t even cover costs.
Pain Turned Into Politics
When farmers protest, their pain is questioned. Motives are debated. Narratives are created. But a farmer standing on the road is not asking for attention. He is asking to be heard before it is too late.
A Crisis Waiting for Care
Farmer suicides are not about one government or one policy. They are about years of neglect. Until farming offers security, respect, and a fair income, this pain will continue — quietly, painfully, and unseen.