Addressing a delegation of three leading business chambers -- CII, FICCI and Assocham -- the President said the rural economy also has to grow so that benefits of development reach the farmers.
"The President said that it pains her when she hears that farmers are committing suicides," according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement.
"Like industrialists, they are also entrepreneurs, they take risks when they sow their crops and are instrumental in feeding the nation," she said.
Though the number of farmers committing suicides has come down in recent years, reports of growers taking the extreme step still pours in from Vidarbha and other parts of the country.
According to official figures, 123 farmers had taken their lives due to agrarian causes in 2011 till July-end in Maharashtra as against 454 in 2010.
The three chambers presented a compendium on business delegations which accompanied the President during her visits to 21 countries from 2008 to 2012.
The delegation which called on the President comprised Assocham secretary general D S Rawat, CII director general Chandrajit Banerjee and FICCI secretary general Rajeev Kumar.
Patil said she has faith in Indian industry and in its ability to bring out the country from its current "subdued" economic growth rate.
