Suicide rate is alarming in US & Oz, too

Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 29

If farmer suicides have reached alarming proportions in India, developed countries like the United States and Australia, too, are no exception and are facing the same challenge.

Ronnie Cummins, National Director, Organic Consumers Association, a non-profit US-based network of two million consumers dedicated to safeguarding organic standards and promoting a healthy and sustainable system of agriculture, says even countries like the USA face a challenge of farmers committing suicides due to rising debts.  He said although mechanised farming had led to high productivity, lower prices for produce was adversely affecting US farmers, with some of them resorting to suicides and many of them taking to alcoholism, ultimately leading to their deaths.

Cummins said it was a matter of concern that today only one per cent of American farmers were into farming, while in 1900, a total of 85 per cent Americans were associated with the profession.

Andre Leu, president of the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement, said barring Europe, farmer suicides were a big challenge across the globe.  He said rising costs and little returns from agriculture were forcing farmers to take to extreme steps. 

He said barring Europe, where farmer gets a fair price for its crops, countries like the United States, Latin America, Africa, Asian and others face the challenge of farmers suicides. 

Referring to India, Andre Leu said it was in this country that organic farming was born. “Indigenous agriculture practices of Indian farmers were all organic and it was only after Britishers ruled the country that newer agriculture practices were adopted,” he added.