PAU vice-chancellor expresses concern over farmers' suicides

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) vice-chancellor B S Dhillon today said farmers' suicide was "rising" in the state despite an increase in monthly income of agricultural households, and improved yield and soil health.

Expressing concern over the issue, he called upon the faculty of PAU to participate in the mission of preventing suicides by farmers.

"Despite increase in monthly income of agricultural household in Punjab, improved yield and soil health, farmers' suicides are rising," Dhillon said at the university.

A research project 'Utshah' is underway in the Department of Agricultural Journalism, Languages and Culture of PAU. This is aimed at preventing farmer suicides by promoting simplicity in life, drug free lifestyle and developing positive thinking, he said.
 

Sarabjeet Singh, Principal Investigator of the project, said, "PAU is the lead institution of this project along with three other universities, including the Telangana Agricultural University, the Marathwada Agricultural University and the Punjabi University."

He stated that through this project, the PAU has shown hope to the farmers in distress.

The project will lay emphasis on awareness campaign, selection of student volunteers, baseline survey, designing of customised modules dealing with hopelessness, helplessness and financial distress.

Sukhpal Singh, Head of Department of Economics and Sociology at PAU, said, "Suicide is a complex phenomena associated with economic, social and psychological distress of a victim."

The crisis is more prevalent in cotton belt of Punjab, he said, adding that Barnala, Sangrur and Sri Muktsar Sahib districts were the worst hit.

"The year 2008 witnessed maximum framers' suicides. Increase in cost of inputs, decline in farm employment, non- productive use of loan, expensive social sector and high rate of interests contribute to distress," he observed.

Cooperative farming, skill development and employment generation, education and health rate facilities at reasonable rates, enhancement in income, fixing of MSP with actual land rent or charging one-third rent of farm produce among others. can pave way for stress free life.