**Executive Summary:**
This document addresses questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding farmer suicides and the government's response. It details government initiatives to support farmers, including financial assistance, insurance schemes, and efforts to ensure fair pricing for agricultural products. The information provided includes data up to 2022 and budgetary allocations planned for 2025-26.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Farmer Suicides:**
* The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles data on suicides, but reasons for suicide are not specified in their reports.
* Agriculture is a state subject; state governments provide ex-gratia payments or compensation according to their own norms.
* The Central Government supports states through policy measures and budgetary allocations.
* **Government Support and Schemes:**
* The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DAFW) budget has increased from Rs. 21,933.50 crore (BE) in 2013-14 to Rs. 1,27,290.16 crore (BE) in 2025-26.
* Key schemes include:
* Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKISAN)
* Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PMKMY)
* Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
* Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
* Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
* Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs)
* National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
* Namo Drone Didi
* National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
* Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PMAASHA)
* Agri Fund for StartUps Rural Enterprises (AgriSURE)
* Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
* SubMission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
* Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
* Soil Health Fertility (SHF)
* Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
* Agroforestry
* Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
* SubMission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
* SubMission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
* National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
* Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM)
* Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
* National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO-Oil Palm)
* National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO-Oilseeds)
* Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
* Digital Agriculture Mission
* National Bamboo Mission
* **Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY):**
* Implemented by states, including insurance model selection and claim assessment.
* The National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) has been developed for data management and service delivery.
* A Digiclaim Module has been operationalized for claim payments.
* Penalties are levied for delayed payments by insurance companies.
* Central government share of premium subsidy is delinked from state governments to ensure proportionate claims for farmers.
* **Minimum Support Price (MSP):**
* The government fixes MSPs based on recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP).
* MSPs are set at levels of one and a half times the cost of production.
* The government has consistently increased MSPs for mandated crops since 2018-19.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Farmers:**
* *Impact:* Affected by government policies and schemes aimed at increasing income, providing insurance, and ensuring fair prices for their produce. The success of the schemes and timeliness of claim settlement directly impacts their financial stability and well-being.
* *Action Required:* Enroll in relevant schemes like PMFBY and PMKISAN. Stay informed about MSP and other support measures. Engage with state government officials and insurance companies for claim settlements under PMFBY.
* **State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing agricultural policies and schemes, including PMFBY. Also responsible for providing ex-gratia payments to families of farmers who commit suicide as per state norms.
* *Action Required:* Implement PMFBY effectively, including transparent insurance company selection and timely claim assessment. Disburse ex-gratia payments as per state regulations. Collaborate with the central government on agricultural policy.
* **Insurance Companies:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for settling claims under PMFBY. Subject to penalties for delayed payments.
* *Action Required:* Settle claims promptly and transparently. Integrate with NCIP and PFMS for efficient claim processing.
* **Central Government (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for formulating policies, allocating budgets, and overseeing the implementation of agricultural schemes.
* *Action Required:* Continue to monitor the effectiveness of schemes, adjust policies as needed, and ensure adequate budgetary support for the agricultural sector. Address issues related to farmer distress and suicides through targeted interventions.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana PMFBY: A Government of India crop insurance scheme aimed at providing financial support to farmers suffering crop losses due to unforeseen events.
Minimum Support Price MSP: A form of market intervention by the Government of India to support farmers by guaranteeing a minimum price for their crops.
National Crime Records Bureau NCRB: An Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data, including data on farmer suicides, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for policies and programs related to agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi PMKISAN: An initiative by the Government of India that provides income support to small and marginal farmers.
Commission for Agricultural Costs Prices CACP: An advisory body that recommends minimum support prices (MSPs) for agricultural commodities to the Indian government.
National Crop Insurance Portal NCIP: A unified platform for crop insurance-related activities, streamlining processes and ensuring transparency in claim settlement.
Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India ADSI: An annual publication by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) that compiles data on suicides in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 314
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22ND JULY, 2025
STUDIES ON FARMER SUICIDES
314. SHRI RAHUL GANDHI:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष और (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that chronic agrarian distress has contributed to an
increase in farmer suicides across the country, if so, the details of farmer suicides in the
country since 2020, State-wise;
(b) whether the Government has conducted or commissioned any studies or assessments
to evaluate the causes of increasing farmer suicides and the extent of agrarian distress in
different regions, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of any financial relief, compensation or rehabilitation packages provided to
families of farmers who have committed suicide since 2020, State-wise;
(d) the details of the steps taken to ensure timely disbursal of claims under the Pradhan
Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and other related schemes; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to provide a legally guaranteed Minimum Support
Price (MSP) to farmers, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (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 till 2022 is available on NCRB website
(https://ncrb.gov.in). Reasons for suicide are not given in the report.
Agriculture is a State Subject. State Governments provide ex gratia or
compensation as per State norms. Government of India supports the States through
appropriate policy measures & budgetary allocation for schemes for the welfare of farmers.
Schemes target increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to
farmers. The Government has substantially enhanced the budget allocation of Department
of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) from Rs. 21, 933.50 crore BE during 2013-14 toRs. 1,27,290.16 crore BE during 2025-26. Major schemes/ programmes initiated by
DA&FW to enhance overall income of farmers and remunerative returns in the agriculture
sector are as under:
1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
3. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)/ Restructured Weather Based Crop
Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)
4. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
5. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
6. Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs)
7. National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
8. Namo Drone Didi
9. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
10. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
11. Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises’ (AgriSURE)
12. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
13. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
14. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
15. Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F)
16. Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
17. Agroforestry
18. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
19. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
20. Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
21. National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
22. Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM)
23. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
24. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm
25. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oilseeds
26. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
27. Digital Agriculture Mission
28. National Bamboo Mission
(d): Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is implemented through the States
wherein all the selection of insurance model, selection of Insurance Companies through
transparent bidding process, enrollment of farmers, assessment of crop yield/crop loss for
calculation of admissible claims etc. are carried out by the concerned State Government or
Joint Committee of State Government officials and concerned insurance company. The
roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder are defined in the Operational Guidelines of
the scheme for the proper execution. Majority of the claims are settled within the stipulated
timelines by the insurance companies.
Various steps to strengthen implementation of PMFBY and bring transparency and
timely settlement of claims are: National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) has been developed as a single source of
data ensuring subsidy payment, co-ordination, transparency, dissemination of
information and delivery of services including direct online enrollment of farmers,
uploading/obtaining individual insured farmer’s details for better monitoring and to
ensure transfer of claim electronically to the farmer’s Bank Account.
A dedicated module ‘Digiclaim Module’ has been operationalized for payment of
claims from Kharif 2022 onwards. It involves integration of NCIP with Public Finance
Management System (PFMS) and accounting system of Insurance Companies to
provide timely & transparent processing of all claims w.e.f. Kharif 2024. In case
payment is not made timely by Insurance Company, penalty of 12% is auto-
calculated and levied through NCIP.
Delinking of Central Government share of premium subsidy from that of State
Governments has been implemented so that farmers can get proportionate claims
relating to the Central Government share.
(e): Government fixes Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for mandated crops based on
the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) after
considering the views of concerned State Governments and Central Ministries/
Departments.
The Union Budget for 2018-19 had announced the pre-determined principle to keep
MSPs at levels of one and half times of the cost of production. Accordingly, Government
had consistently increased MSPs for all mandated Kharif, Rabi and other Commercial crops
with a minimum margin of 50 percent over all India weighted average cost of production
from the year 2018-19 onwards.
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