Crisis and way forward

Centre for Sustainable Agriculture

The saga of Farmers suicides1985-86: Guntur district more than 100 farmers committed suicides1997-99: Warangal, Karimnagar dist more than 3,000 farmers committed

suicides2003-04: all over the state more than 2500 suicides2004-2013: on average 2,000

People depending on Agriculture in India

69.999.6

78.2 92.5110.7 127.31 118.7

27.3

31.5 47.5 55.5

74.6

106.1144.3

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011

Indian Census 1951-2011

Cultivators Agriculture labour

49.93%

19.5%

52.78%

16.69%

43.35%

26.33%

37.82%

22.69%

35.24%

23.75%

31.65%

26.38%

24.64%

29.96%69.43%

69.47% 69.68%60.51%

58.99%

58.03%

54.6%

• People depending on agriculture has come down from 69.43% to 54.6% in last 60yrs• For the first time the number of cultivators is lower than agriculture workers both in proportion and absolute numbers• Between 2001-2011 about 86.10 lakh people have left farming in India which is about 2358/day• In 2011 main cultivators (depending on farm income for more than 6 months) are only 95.8 m which is about 8% of Indian population)

(People in Million) (% of workers)

Source: Census of India 1951-2011 http://www.agrariancrisis.in

People Depending on Agriculture

Year Total Population Rural Population Cultivators

WorkersAgriculture Other

TotalLabourers Worker

s

1 1951 361.10298.60 69.90 27.30 42.80 140.0082.69% 49.93% 19.50% 30.57% 100.00%

2 1961 439.20360.30 99.60 31.50 57.60 188.7082.04% 52.78% 16.69% 30.52% 100.00%

3 1971 548.20439.00 78.20 47.50 54.70 180.4080.08% 43.35% 26.33% 30.32% 100.00%

4 1981 683.30523.90 92.50 55.50 96.60 244.6076.67% 37.82% 22.69% 39.49% 100.00%

5 1991 846.30628.70 110.70 74.60 128.80 314.1074.29% 35.24% 23.75% 41.01% 100.00%

6 2001 1012.40 742.60 127.31 106.10 168.15 402.23 73.35% 31.65% 26.38% 41.80% 100.00%

7 2011 1,210.73 833.5 118.7 144.3 218.7 481.7

68.84% 24.64% 29.96% 45.40% 100.00%

Population depending on Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh (united)

(40.87%)

(27.74 %)

(39.64 %)

(22.52 %)

(43.04 %)

(16.47 %)

(68.61 %)(62.16 %)

(59.51 %)

• In last one decade 13,68,012 people have left farming and most of them became agriculture workers

• This is on average 375/day

People depending on Agriculture

By 2022 population in the working age would be 3.12 cr, employment oppurtunities may grow only upto 1.80 cr

31,75,667

1,64,53,000

59,90,98665,09,430

91,66,653 (55%)

(19%)(37%)

(45%)

02000400060008000

100001200014000160001800020000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Farmers suicides in India

No. of suicides

Source: NCRB 1995-2013

Total 2,96,466 in 19 years

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Farmers Suicides in India, 2013

Four major cotton growing states form 65% of the suicidesAP and Maharashtra form 44 %

Source: NCRB 1995-2013, http://www.ncrb.nic.in

Total 11,772

http://www.agrariancrisis.in

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

year 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Farmers suicides in Andhra Pradesh (united)

NCRB data

Source: NCRB 1995-2013 http://www.ncrb.nic.in

Total 37,912 in 19 years

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Total Farmers Suicides- 26,773 1995 to 2014 (October)

801

1143

735

1215

1550

943 99512451295

20301802

1932

1071

1575

1213

15361316

15761600

1200

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013

Farmers Suicides

Farmers Suicides

Telugu Desam Congress TRS

(11,952) (14,441) (380)

Source: National Crime Records Bureau (1995-2013), News Papers for 2014 http://www.agrariancrisis.in

Telangana farmers suicides since 2nd June to 22nd October, 2014

Recognised by Govt

S.No Name of the District 1998 19992000 2001 2002 2003 13.05.04 14.05.04 200520062007200820092010 201120122013

Total

1 Adilabad 8 16 23 26 20 26 4 60 60 83 48 12 13 4 0 20 0 4232 Karimnagar 12 15 15 36 38 36 11 96 73 48 55 64 42 31 35 7 0 6143 Khammam 1 7 0 9 4 7 2 37 23 22 7 12 2 0 0 0 0 1334 Mahaboob nagar 4 15 20 9 22 17 4 112 57 35 30 29 17 4 1 0 0 3765 Medak 2 1 5 5 11 25 17 92 46 30 28 33 34 29 34 4 0 3966 Nalgonda 10 9 8 15 19 11 34 53 52 48 13 43 17 13 8 0 0 3537 Nizamabad 1 3 6 8 24 9 8 64 27 12 17 7 10 0 0 0 0 1968 Ranga Reddy 0 4 3 1 4 5 0 56 39 22 22 26 31 27 20 6 0 2669 Warangal 46 78 79 95 97 77 27 112 45 32 24 11 2 0 0 0 0 72510 Hyderabad 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Telangana Grand total 84 148 159 204 239 213 107 682 422 332 244 237 168 108 98 37 03482

Source : Department of revenue

Major Reasons Increasing costs of cultivation due to

high input use increasing costs of inputs, and lack of access to productive resourcesdecreasing subsidies

Stagnating yieldsSoil fertility going downMonoculture of cropsCrops spreading into areas unsuitable for them

Shift to water intensive crops leading to Ground water depletionFailure of tubewells

Decreasing pricesLower MSPs Increasing price fluctuations after opening up of markets

Land distribution in Telangana

Region Land owned by 5 % of families

Land owned by 60 % of families

Land less families

Northern Telangana 32.21% 10.63% 39.26%

Southern Telangana 33.47% 4.96% 50.19%

Total 32.84% 7.80% 44.73%

Land holdings in Telangana

Landholdings in Telangana

DistrictTotal cropped area

Kharif (ha) Cotton area (ha) % areaAdilabad 5,75,000.00 3,89,252.00 67.70

Karimnagar 3,93,000.00 2,56,449.00 65.25Warangal 4,34,000.00 2,70,475.00 62.32Nalgonda 4,54,000.00 2,10,984.00 46.47Khammam 3,97,000.00 1,68,990.00 42.57Rangareddy 2,02,000.00 51,138.00 25.32Medak 4,27,000.00 96,809.00 22.67Mahaboobnagar 8,19,000.00 1,82,469.00 22.28Total 37,01,000.00 16,26,566.00 43.95

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Agriculture loans (2012-13)Crop loans Short Term loans Allied Sector loans Total

Ranga Reddy 1,059.62 158.00 310.73 1,528.35

Nizamabad 1,474.03 532.59 274.93 2,281.55

Medak 1,061.92 241.04 343.31 1,646.27

Mahaboobnagar 2,098.43 302.00 431.86 2,832.29

Nalgonda 1,684.31 295.46 298.73 2,278.50

Warangal 1,436.43 201.7 558.55 2,196.68

Khammam 1,514.07 134.00 594.52 2,242.59

Karimnagar 2,046.19 435.43 533.00 3,014.62

Adilabad 1,255.41 204.00 63.00 1,522.41

Hyderabad 434.18 3,127.12 484.07 4,045.37

Total 14,064.59 5,631.34 3,892.70 23,588.63Source: State Level Bankers Committee, http://www.slbcap.nic.in

Agriculture loans for Hyderabad (2008-13)

Year Crop loans Short Term loans Allied Sector loans Total

2008-09 657.20 - - 657.20

2009-10 935.47 625.00 1,860.00 3,420.47

2010-11 480.00 3,939.86 1,840.00 6,259.86

2011-12 245.29 2,574.71 1,874.77 4,694.77

2012-13 434.18 3,127.12 484.07 4,045.37

District Loan eligibility cards issued

Farmers who accessed loans

Total loan received

Nizamabad 6,409 235 0.20Medak 2009 833 2.19Warangal 12,136 3,503 0.22Karimnagar 9,413 2,088 7.18Adilabad 2,947 600 1.74Rangareddy 113 25 0.09Mahaboobnagar 656 40 0.27Nalgonda 3,021 979 2.49Khammam 21,830 3,503 9.54Total 58,534 11,806 23.92

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Loans to tenant farmersDistrict Loan eligibility cards

issuedTenant Farmers accessed loans

Total loan received

Nizamabad 6,409 235 0.20

Medak 2009 833 2.19

Warangal 12,136 3,503 0.22

Karimnagar 9,413 2,088 7.18

Adilabad 2,947 600 1.74

Rangareddy 113 25 0.09

Mahaboobnagar 656 40 0.27

Nalgonda 3,021 979 2.49

Khammam 21,830 3,503 9.54

Total 58,534 11,806 23.92

ఖరీఫ్ రబీ

Income and Expenditure of farmersLand holding Category Total Income

(Rs/month) Expenditure(Rs/month)

Percent of farmers

<0.01 Landless 1380 2297 36 % 0.01-0.4 Sub marginal 1633 2390

0.4-1.0 Marginal 1809 2672 31 %

1.0-2.0 Small 2493 3148 17 %

2.0-4.0 Semi-medium 3589 3685 10 %

4.0-10.0 Medium 5681 4626 6 %

>10.0 Large 9667 6418 Total 2115 2770 All farmers

Source: Report “On Conditions Of Work And Promotion Of Livelihoods In The Unorganised Sector” Arjun Sen Gupta Committee, 2007

Crop Current support price (Rs/q)

Cost of production (Rs/ha)

Cost of production (Rs/q)

Support price recommended by state (Rs/q)

Support price announced by Centre (Rs/q)

A grade paddy 1,345 1,05,209 2,104.00 3,156.00 1400.00

Ordinary paddy 1,310 1,02,480 1,708.00 2,562.00 1360.00

Jowar 1,500 28,299 1,769.00 2,653.00 1530.00

Maize 1,310 25,486 1,566.00 2,349.00 1310.00

Ragi 1,500 21,354 1,779.00 2,668.00 1550.00

Groundnut 4,000 40,509 4,501.00 6,751.00 4000.00

Soybean 2,500 52,789 2,778.00 4,167.00 2560.00

Sunflower 3,700 33,633 4,204.00 6,306.00 3750.00

Cotton (long staple) 4,000 98,896 4,945.00 6,306.00 4050.00

Cotton (short staple) 3,700 92,323 4,859.00 7,288.00 3750.00

Sugarcane 210 2,16,986 271.00 406.50 220.00

What is needed….• Integrated farming systems integrating livestock, trees etc• Agronomic innovations like high density plantation in cotton or SRI in

paddy• Building soil organic matter, mulches etc• Conserving moisture and Rainwater harvesting• Locally adopted crops and varieties-millets, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables….• Contingence planning• Moving away from agro-chemical use

28Changing to multiple cropping systems

29Switching over to ecological farming practices

Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh

Basic Principles Regenerative, ecologically sound practices Organized action by communities in planning,

implementing and managing the program Govt/ngos playing facilitating agency role

2004-05 started with 225 acres in one dist and reached 7 lakh acres in 2007-08 in 18 dist. World Bank says this is a good tool for poverty eradication and now promoted as part of NRLMWith 50 % development expenditure one can double the incomes of the farmers A national program called Mahila Krishi Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) is launched based on this experiencce

0.225 25 200 700

1300

2000

2800

3500 3600

0.1 1580

300600

10001500 1600 1770

2135 1997

1394 1541 1381

1015

0500

1000150020002500300035004000

Acerage ('000 acres) Farmers ('000) Pesticide use (MT Active Ingradient)

Farmers and area covered under CMSA

http://65.19.149.140/pilots/cmsanew/index.html

States/UTs 2004-05 2005-06 2006-072007-08 2008-09 2009-10kg/ha 2000-01

kg/ha 2009-10

Punjab 6900 5610 5975 6080 5760 5810 0.98 0.82Haryana 4520 4560 4600 4390 4288 4070 0.84 0.68Andhra Pradesh 2135 1997 1394 1541 1381 1015 0.34 0.09Maharastra 3030 3198 3193 3050 2400 4639 0.17 0.24Tamil Nadu 2466 2211 3940 2048 2317 2335 0.32 0.45Gujarat 2900 2700 2670 2660 2650 2750 0.30 0.29Kerala 360 571 545 780 272.69 631 0.31 0.26Karnataka 2200 1638 1362 1588 1675 1647 0.17 0.14

Status of pesticide utilization in different states**

**Source: http://ppqs.gov.in/IpmPesticides.htm MT of active ingredient

Average Reduction in costs and net additional income for different crops

Crops Reduction in cost due to NPM (Rs)

Reduction in costs due to use of organic fertilisers/manures (Rs)

Net additional income (Rs)

Paddy 940 1450 5590

Maize 1319 2357 5676

Cotton 1733 1968 5676

Chillies 1733 1968 7701

Groundnut 1021 3462 10483

Vegetables 1400 390 3790

3rd Party Evaluation of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) : Community Managed Organic Farming implemented by SERP

Evaluation TeamProf. R. Ratnakar, Director, Dr. M. Surya Mani, Professor, EXTENSION EDUCATION INSTITUTE, (Southern Region), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India

Producer Co-op-1Farmer Group B

Consumer Co-op

•Healthy food•Affordable Price•Max share to farmers Organic Store

Mobile Store

Direct to Home

Producer Co-op-2

Other farmers and farmers groups

Farmer Group A

Farmer Group C

Sahaja Aharam Cooperative Federation•Capacity building•Institutional building•Investment support•Brand building•Qualtiy Management•Fair Trade

Market placeDirect to resellers

Whole sale to traders

Bulk buyers

Organic Store

Processing unitsSeed market

Yet to estiblish

Marketing Agency

Value Chain Fund

So…what can be doneSupport farmers to switch to ecological farmingHelp them to get organised for production, marketing and entitlementsRecast the support systems-research, extension, subsidies….Increase the investment-public and private to make farming viable

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