No escape, even for Best Farmer award winner

Elias Ambat, a native of Cherupuzha in Kannur district, is the latest farmer to have ended life in distress. Unlike the quotidian news of farmers’ deaths appearing in newspapers across the country, this case stands apart for the fact that Elias was a recipient of the Best Farmer award in Kannur district in 2019. In the 12 acres of leased land, Elias used to cultivate bitter gourd, banana and Snake gourd. Family cited falling prices and crop failure to have shattered the farmer, who then contemplated suicide as the best option to come out of the quandary.

Elias died while undergoing treatment in the hospital after consuming pesticides. The Agriculture Department chose to give the farmer almost Rs one lakh while he was on his deathbed. If this subsidy amount had been received on time, the thoughts of suicide would not have crossed the farmer’s mind. Relatives allege that he was pushed to suicide because being denied government benefits on time. Elias had visited offices several times for subsidy benefits, but to no avail. Locals say that Elias had a debt of more than 40 lakh rupees.

The central and state governments continue to give highfalutin talks about doubling the income of farmers, but the recurring suicide of farmers in the country, especially in Kerala, gives a clear picture of reality. In the last two years, about ten thousand farmers have committed suicide in the country due to debt. During this period, 91 farmers committed suicide in Kerala. These figures are reliable because as it is provided by non-governmental organisations after detailed studies. Climate change, water scarcity, and crop diseases are the main reasons affecting the livelihood of farmers. Apart from farmers, the suicide rate among farm workers is also showing a spike.

Most farmers borrow money from local lenders at interest. It is impossible to gain profit from farming alone and pay back the money with interest. The threat from moneylenders, denial of fair compensation from the government, and the struggle to raise a family would batter most of the frail hearts in the business. There would be no escape for them from the crisis other than to ponder suicide. It is high time the government dropped the empty talks and got into action to save the lives of India’s most ignored class.