New Delhi: Farmer organisations have sharply contested the Centre’s assertion that farm incomes have doubled in recent years, alleging that agrarian distress continues to deepen across the country. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has pointed out that more than five lakh farmers, farm labourers and migrant workers have died by suicide over the past 12 years, under the Narendra Modi rule, highlighting what it describes as a persistent rural crisis.
The statement comes in response to remarks made in Parliament by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who said that farmer incomes had doubled under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Farmer groups, however, argue that such claims are inconsistent with ground realities, pointing to rising indebtedness and inadequate returns from agriculture.
According to SKM, an average of 31 farmers die by suicide each day, largely due to mounting debt burdens. The group has also raised concerns over the implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism, alleging that procurement remains limited and that a majority of farmers are forced to sell produce below the घोषित benchmark price.
Leaders of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) have echoed similar concerns, calling for the adoption of the Swaminathan Commission’s C2 formula, which proposes setting MSP at 50 per cent above the comprehensive cost of production. They argue that such a measure is essential to ensure fair remuneration and financial stability for farmers.
Farmer representatives have also linked recent suicides, including cases in Punjab’s Faridkot district, to loan defaults involving banks and informal lenders. They contend that policy decisions at the Centre, along with broader geopolitical factors, have compounded the economic stress faced by the agricultural sector.
The Centre has yet to respond to these specific allegations.