Explain Seed Suicides in India.

Seed suicides in India refer to the tragic phenomenon where farmers, primarily in rural areas, are driven to suicide due to the inability to repay loans taken out to purchase genetically modified (GM) seeds. The issue gained prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s, coinciding with the introduction of GM seeds, particularly Bt cotton, by multinational agrochemical companies.

Farmers were initially attracted to GM seeds due to promises of increased yields and reduced pesticide use. However, the high cost of these patented seeds, coupled with the requirement to purchase new seeds each planting season, created a cycle of debt for many farmers. Additionally, fluctuating market prices, unpredictable weather patterns, and crop failures exacerbated financial pressures, leaving farmers unable to repay loans taken to purchase seeds and inputs.

The desperation caused by mounting debt, coupled with the inability to sustain livelihoods, led to a surge in farmer suicides across several states in India, particularly in regions where cash crops like cotton were predominant. These suicides were often seen as acts of desperation and protest against the socio-economic pressures faced by farmers, including indebtedness, crop failures, and lack of institutional support.

The seed suicides underscored broader issues of agricultural distress, rural poverty, and the vulnerabilities of small-scale farmers in India. They sparked debates about the impacts of GM seeds, corporate control over agriculture, and the need for policies to address the root causes of farmer indebtedness and agrarian crisis.

Efforts to address seed suicides have included calls for greater regulation of seed markets, support for sustainable and diverse farming practices, investment in rural infrastructure and agricultural extension services, and initiatives to promote farmer livelihoods and resilience. However, the issue remains complex and multifaceted, requiring comprehensive strategies to address the underlying structural factors contributing to agricultural distress and farmer suicides in India.