Parliament Question: Farmer Suicides due to Debt

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1561 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 28TH JULY, 2026 FARMER SUICIDES DUE TO DEBT 1561. SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS कृ िष और िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that farmer suicides linked to debt continue to be reported from Punjab; (b) whether any comprehensive and updated data on farmer suicides linked to indebtedness is maintained at the national and State level; (c) if so, the details of the total number of farmer suicides reported in the State of Punjab during each of the last five years (2022–2026), the primary causes identified in each year and the compensation paid to next of kin of farmers who died by suicide; and (d) whether the Government has any plan for legal recognition and comprehensive implementation of the MS Swaminathan Commission recommendation for an MSP equivalent to at least C2 cost plus 50% profit, which farmer unions in Punjab have consistently demanded as the only lasting solution to the debt-crisis? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) to (c): The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs compiles and disseminates information on suicides in its publication titled ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India’ (ADSI). The report upto 2024 is available on NCRB website (https://ncrb.gov.in). The State Govt. of Punjab as per their own State policy pays Rs. 3.00 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased farmer. (d): Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for 22 agricultural crops are fixed annually by the Government for the country as a whole on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) after considering the views of State Governments and Central Ministries/ Departments concerned. The policy ensures a minimum margin of 50 percent over the all-India weighted average cost of production. *****