137 Farmers End Lives in Jalgaon Over 10 Months

Jalgaon farmers committed suicide: Jalgaon, known for its banana and cotton farming, has witnessed a tragic trend in the past 10 months, with 137 farmers ending their lives due to despair.

WhatsApp Group Join Now

The issue of farmer suicides in Maharashtra is an extremely grave one. It is heartbreaking that the very farmers who feed the world are driven to such desperate measures. In Jalgaon district alone, 137 farmers have taken their own lives over the past 10 months. Cotton farming, in particular, has become a source of immense distress for the farmers, pushing them toward extreme decisions.

According to official statistics, this grim reality has emerged in Jalgaon. The unpredictable weather, repeated crop failures, and inadequate market prices have crushed the morale of farmers.

Jalgaon, a key district in the Khandesh region, primarily grows cotton as its main crop. Farmers are compelled to sell cotton to government centers at fixed prices. However, strict regulations and procedures at these centers often result in reduced rates, leaving farmers disheartened. Many end up selling their cotton at whatever price they can get, further deepening their financial woes.

Currently, the district has 7.5 lakh hectares under cultivation. During the Rabi season, crops like chickpea, wheat, sorghum, and sunflower are grown, alongside cotton, millet, and bananas. However, in recent years, drought, unseasonal rains, and heavy downpours have led to widespread crop failures. Adding to their troubles, cotton and soybean prices have remained low for the past three years, completely derailing farmers’ budgets. This financial crisis and debt burden have resulted in an average of 12 farmer suicides per month.

Data from the district administration reveals that 136 farmer suicides occurred over the past 10 months. The highest number of suicides were recorded in February and April.

Suicides by Month:

  • January: 12
  • February: 18
  • March: 14
  • April: 18
  • May: 14
  • June: 12
  • July: 14
  • August: 10
  • September: 12
  • October: 13

Eastern Jalgaon is largely rain-dependent, and farmers here rely heavily on monsoon rains for farming. While areas like Raver, Jamner, and Bhusawal have better water resources, enabling farmers there to grow cash crops, others struggle with acute water shortages.

There is a growing demand for the government to reconsider its cotton procurement and pricing policies to provide much-needed relief to the hardworking farmers of Jalgaon.

WhatsApp Group Join Now