MM5.2: Studies on social dynamics of cotton production in distress areas

As per the report (2006-07) prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture & Co-operation, Govt. of India, 11,782 farmers have committed suicides in the country during last five years. Most of these suicides have been reported from cotton growing areas of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Punjab due to non-remunerative cotton yield per hectare, crop failure, heavy indebtedness resulting loosing of interest in cotton farming leading to stress situation due to frustration and extreme step like suicide. Several other reports on farmers suicides prepared by Dr.M.S. Swaminathan Committee, Planning Commission, Tata Institute of Social Research, Mumbai and Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Studies, Mumbai also blame the failure of cotton crop due to drought situation and pest problems, bad marketing and indebtedness for farmer's suicides prepared by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Committee, Planning Commission, Tata Institute of Social Research, Mumbai and Indira Gandhi Institute of Development studies, Mumbai also blame the failure of cotton crop due to drought situation and pest problems, bad marketing and indebtedness for farmer's suicides. An attempt is being made in this study to look at the phenomenon of cotton growers suicides through social-psychological perspective which treats suicide as a deviant behavior. Crop failure and indebtedness can explain some of the variance but there are other important antecedents of suicides such as perceived financial condition, quality of life, expenditure pattern, contingencies, Govt. policies, family problem, social isolation and social support etc. leading them to alienation from land causing depression and suicide which also will be studies in this project.

OBJECTIVES:

  • To quantify the cotton growers alienation from land.
  • To study the social dynamics of cotton production in highly distress areas.
  • To study the issue of indebtedness among farmers
  • To explore the antecedents of alienation from land.

Name of the Lead Centre: PDKV, Akola

Co-operating centers: CICR, Nagpur; ANGRAU Lam Guntur; UAS, Dharwad; PAU Ludhiana.