Saudi Arabia affirms its commitment for a ban on chemical weapons    Saudi Arabia and Morocco emphasize keenness on strengthening cooperation across various realms    EU leaders meet to discuss Ukraine's future as Trump pushes for fast peace deal    Saudi taekwondo champion Dunia Abu Talib tops world rankings, making history    Gaza food prices soar after Israel halts aid deliveries    Boom to gloom: India middle-class jitters amid trillion-dollar market rout    Real-life shipwreck story wins major book award    Bangladesh leader likens Sheikh Hasina regime to 'terrible tornado'    Seven injured after South Korean fighter jet accidentally drops bombs    Islamic Arts Biennale celebrates Ramadan with 'Biennale Nights' in Jeddah    Tawakkalna offers a package of religious services during Ramadan    Ministry ranks Saudi auto dealers — Abdul Latif Jameel has longest waitlist, Al-Naghi records longest delivery time    Haram Authority launches smart luggage storage service New service is available around the clock during Ramadan    New boxing promotion led by Turki Al-Sheikh, TKO, and Sela set to transform the sport    Okaz and Saudi Gazette Esports    Saudi Arabia attracted 2.5 million sports tourists in four years, says ministry    PIF and Italy's SACE sign MoU to boost financial collaboration with up to $3 billion in project support    Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed appointed artistic directors for 2026 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale    Al Hilal stumble in Tashkent as Pakhtakor claim first-leg advantage in AFC Champions League Round of 16    HONOR unveils New Corporate Strategy to Transition to an AI Device Ecosystem Company Illuminating a three-step roadmap underpinned by openness and collaboration    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Debt-ridden farmers suicide at the rate of 48 per day – experts
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 12 - 05 - 2008

Crushed by debts many farmers in India kill themselves at a rate of 48 a day between 2002 and 2006 – more than 17,500 a year, according to experts who have analyzed government statistics.
At least 160,000 farmers have committed suicide since 1997, said K. Nagaraj of the Madras Institute of Development Studies.
The epidemic dates to the 1990s, and is generally attributed to a toxic blend of slashed subsidies, tougher global competition, drought, predatory moneylenders and expensive genetically modified seeds.
“It's one of the largest public health disasters to hit India since independence,” said professor Charles Nuckols of Brigham Young University, an anthropologist who has studied Indian village life for decades.
A decade ago, the government began cutting farm subsidies as it liberalized the managed socialist economy. The farmers' costs rose as the tariffs that had protected their products were lowered. It was a combination, analysts say, that made small farms even harder to sustain.
Meanwhile, banking reforms forced farmers to be more dependent on private moneylenders. These generally allow the farmers only 11 months to pay back their loans at interest rates of more than 100 percent a year, or else they seize the land at a drastically reduced rate.
One village moneylender, said the number of farmers unable to repay their loans has increased by roughly 30 percent in the last 10 years.


Clic here to read the story from its source.