Gurpreet Singh :- Punjab, long associated with agrarian distress and mounting rural debt, has reported a significant decline in farmer and farm labourer suicides, according to the latest ‘Crime in India-2024’ report released by the National Crime Records Bureau.
The report states that a total of 127 farmers and agricultural labourers died by suicide in the state during 2024, marking the lowest figure recorded in the past decade. Of these, 57 were farmers while 70 were farm labourers.
In comparison, Punjab had reported 161 such deaths in 2023, reflecting a decline of nearly 21 per cent within a year. Officials and agricultural experts view the development as a positive sign amid the state’s prolonged farm crisis.
Experts attribute the decline to a combination of government welfare measures and policy interventions aimed at easing financial pressure on the farming community. Initiatives such as free electricity for agriculture, compensation for crop losses, debt relief measures and efforts to encourage crop diversification beyond the traditional wheat-paddy cycle are believed to have contributed to the improvement.
Agriculture economists say the gradual shift towards alternative crops and increased institutional support may have helped reduce financial vulnerability among sections of farmers. The report also suggests that Punjab has shown better improvement compared to several other agrarian states facing similar challenges.
However, experts cautioned against viewing the decline as a complete resolution of the crisis. The continued number of suicides among farm labourers remains a matter of concern and points towards deeper structural weaknesses in the rural economy.
Small and marginal farmers, in particular, continue to struggle with rising input costs, fluctuating market prices and shrinking profit margins. Analysts maintain that sustained policy support, expansion of non-farm employment opportunities and long-term income security measures will be essential to address the roots of agrarian distress in Punjab.
