Farmer protests increased five-fold in India since 2017: CSE

Farmer protests in India have registered an almost five-fold increase since 2017, says the Centre for Science and Environment. The number of protests rose from 34 protests across 15 states in 2017 to 165 protests across 22 states in 2020-21. CSE, A Delhi-based think tank has said this in their latest publication - State of India’s Environment in Figures 2021. This publication is an annual compilation of data and statistics on key issues of environment and development. 96 protests were related to economic farm policies which include protests against three contentious farm laws. 38 protests were against the market and price related failures and demand for minimum support prices. 17 protests were against land acquisition for development projects like the construction of highways and airports. Farmers also protested against the unavailability of farm infrastructure, poor insurance coverage and delayed compensations. Every day, over 28 farm labourers and cultivators commit suicide in the country. In 2019, there were 5,957 farmer suicides, along with an additional 4,324 farm labourers who died by suicide. India now has more farm labourers than farmers in 52 per cent of the country’s districts. The population of farm labourers has surpassed the farmer and cultivator populations in districts of Bihar, Kerala and Puducherry. All of this will lead to a grave agrarian crisis and disquiet, CSE warned.