Bengaluru: Farmer suicides in Karnataka have witnessed a steep rise during the last three years, when the state was in the grip of a widespread drought.
Answering an unstarred question by JD(S) member Mr YSV Datta, Agriculture Minister Mr Krishna Byregowda provided the statistics and said that around 2,027 farmers had committed suicide due to crop loss and indebtedness.
In 2014-15, the number of farmer suicides reported was 128, while the actual number of farmers who committed suicide due to crop loss and indebtedness was 101.
In 2015-16, the number of reported suicides was 1483, while the number of farmers committing suicide due to crop loss and indebtedness was 1031. In 2016-17, the number of reported cases were 1167, while farmers who committed suicide due to crop loss and indebtedness was 895.
The government is paying Rs 5 lakh compensation to family members of the deceased. However, the Centre has not extended any compensation for farmer suicides, the minister added.
