Agriculture is the India’s culture since time immemorial. Even today, Agriculture is a way of life and the principle source of livelihood for more than 52% of its population (Economic Survey 2009-10). Hence agriculture plays a key role in the overall economic and social well being of the country.Farmers face floods, drought, pests, disease, and a plethora of other natural disasters. The weather is their greatest adversary, something that can never be controlled by man. Yet, farming has been in existence since the caveman turned his spear in for a hoe. Farming has come a long way since then; nevertheless; farmers are still at the mercy of the heavens. Crop insurance is a risk management tool that farmers can use in today's agricultural world. Government of India as early as 1972 initiated the administered insurance schemes. But the lack of political and bureaucratic will failed one nobler scheme leaving the farmer to his fate.“The tragic incidents of farmers’ suicides in some of the States have been a matter of serious concern…… crop losses, consecutive failure of monsoon, recurrent droughts, mounting debts, mono cropping, land tenancy, etc., seem to be some of the main causes…… 76% of the victims were dependant on rain fed agriculture and 78% were small and marginal farmers……. 76% and 82% of the victim households had borrowed from non-institutional sources in 2000-01 and 2002-03 respectively. The interest rates charged on such debts ranged from 24 to 36%, as compared to 9-12% on institutional credit (Shri. Sharad Pawar, Union Minister of Agriculture). The number of farmers who have committed suicide in India between 1997 and 2009 now stands at a staggering 2, 16,500. The Big Five states or ‘Suicide Belt’ of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh account for just about a third of the country’s population but two thirds of farmers’ suicides. The rate at which farmers are killing themselves in these states is far higher than suicide rates among non-farmers. These states can be called as suicide SEZ or Special Elimination Zone for farmers. TISS report identified that the untenable cost of agricultural production and indebtedness as the key reason for suicides. The repeated crop failures, instability to meet the rising cost of cultivation and indebtedness seem to create a situation that forces farmers to commit suicide.The government should evolve a comprehensive agricultural policy and provide agriculture its due. The agriculture infrastructure should be strengthened and the morale of farmer will definitely increase
