Mumbai: A steep rise in farmer suicides has been seen, approximately a total of 300 cases had come up the first time in four years. It had crossed this much for the first time since 2015. The spurt in cases came immediately after nonseasonal rains lashed the state from October, destroying almost 70% of the Kharif crop.
The last time the state had touched or crossed 300 farmer suicides in a month was in 2015.
The stress of farmers in the nation is worse than any chronic epidemic. They face uncertainty in their profits and returns after they aspire to achieve in any cropping year.
On Dec 21, In a significant move, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday announced a loan waiver for farmers who owe up to Rs 200,000 to banks till September 30 this year.
“This scheme, called ‘Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Farm Loan Waiver Scheme’ will be implemented from March 2020 onward. The upper limit for the loan waiver will be Rs 2 Lakh,” Thackeray told media persons.
In June 22, a total of ₹19,000 crore was offered on farm loan waiver, a total of 12,021 farmers have died in the State due to suicides between 2015 and 2018.
