. NEW DELHI: A total of 10,546 people involved in the farming sector (comprising 4,633 farmers/cultivators and 5,913 agricultural labourers) died by suicide during 2024, accounting for 6.2% of total suicide victims (1,70,746) in the country, says the latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The number of such suicides, however, declined by more than 2% in 2024 compared with 2023 when 10,786 people died by suicide, making it the second consecutive year of decline. In 2023, the number had fallen by more than 4% compared with 2022. State-wise figures show Maharashtra continues to report the highest number of such suicides (3,824), followed by Karnataka (2,971), Madhya Pradesh (835), Andhra Pradesh (780) and Tamil Nadu (503). According to the 2011 Census, agriculture employed about 26 crore people (nearly 55% of India’s workforce), of whom nearly 12 crore were cultivators and 14 crore were agricultural labourers. NCRB clarified the data depict only the profession of people who died by suicide and has no linkage whatsoever with the cause of suicide. At the same time, high numbers in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh coincide with regions where farmers primarily cultivate cash crops like cotton and sugarcane.Failure or low output of such crops pushes the distressed towards moneylenders to meet their need for cash, with some of them even taking the extreme step. An increasing footprint of crop insurance, affordable farm loans and income support schemescould be the reason for the marginal decline in suicide numbers.About the AuthorVishwa MohanVishwa Mohan is Senior Editor at The Times of India. He writes on environment, climate change, agriculture, water resources and clean energy, tracking policy issues and climate diplomacy. He has been covering Parliament since 2003 to see how politics shaped up domestic policy and India’s position at global platform. Before switching over to explore sustainable development issues, Vishwa had covered internal security and investigative agencies for more than a decade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To ResignSatadru Dutta Accuses TMC’s Aroop Biswas Of Sabotaging Lionel Messi Kolkata EventWill Vijay Fight In Court For CM Post? | India Destroyed 13 Pakistani Aircraft | Headlines @9’Whatever Requires To Be Done’: Indian Air Force On Recent Missile Tests By Pakistan And China’Pending For Over 5 Yrs…’: India Reacts To Bangladesh’s ‘Pushback’ Remark After BJP’s Bengal Win’It Was Abhishek Banerjee’: BJP Blames TMC Leaders After Suvendu Adhikari’s Close Aide Shot Dead’No Terror Sanctuary Is Safe’: Indian Army Warns Pakistan On Op Sindoor Anniversary’Killed Him Because I Defeated Mamata In Bhabanipur’: Suvendu Adhikari On PA Chandranath’s Killing’Aap Haare Nahi Hain’: Akhilesh Yadav Tells Mamata Banerjee In Kolkata After TMC’s Bengal RoutIn Punjab Money Laundering Case Cash Bags Hurled From Ninth Floor During Raids123PhotostoriesRashtrapati Bhavan treated the Vietnamese President with Punjabi and Haryanvi meal: This is what was served on the menuHow to make Gujarati Kadhi for summer dinner at homeHappy Birthday Sai Pallavi: ‘Amaran’, ‘Premam’, ‘Fidaa’ – Films of the natural star to binge-watch on OTTThings you are not allowed to do in your garden in the USSimple kitchen habits that may attract more lizards indoorsMet Gala 2026: Weirdest red carpet looks that stole the spotlight this year5 beautiful scented plants to add to your garden todayStrengths of being an introvert: 5 unique traits of people who prefer to be alone over socialisingTaking supplements every day? Doctor warns they may be doing more harm than good7 plants that keep away mosquito from your house123Hot PicksBihar ministers listDelhi traffic advisoryDelhi rainPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingKerala CMWest Bengal ViolenceTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Kerala plus one improvement resultBihar cabinet expansionWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaBihar Ministers ListRCB vs LSG IPL Match Today
NEW DELHI: A total of 10,546 people involved in the farming sector (comprising 4,633 farmers/cultivators and 5,913 agricultural labourers) died by suicide during 2024, accounting for 6.2% of total suicide victims (1,70,746) in the country, says the latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The number of such suicides, however, declined by more than 2% in 2024 compared with 2023 when 10,786 people died by suicide, making it the second consecutive year of decline. In 2023, the number had fallen by more than 4% compared with 2022. State-wise figures show Maharashtra continues to report the highest number of such suicides (3,824), followed by Karnataka (2,971), Madhya Pradesh (835), Andhra Pradesh (780) and Tamil Nadu (503). According to the 2011 Census, agriculture employed about 26 crore people (nearly 55% of India’s workforce), of whom nearly 12 crore were cultivators and 14 crore were agricultural labourers. NCRB clarified the data depict only the profession of people who died by suicide and has no linkage whatsoever with the cause of suicide. At the same time, high numbers in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh coincide with regions where farmers primarily cultivate cash crops like cotton and sugarcane.Failure or low output of such crops pushes the distressed towards moneylenders to meet their need for cash, with some of them even taking the extreme step. An increasing footprint of crop insurance, affordable farm loans and income support schemescould be the reason for the marginal decline in suicide numbers.
