Researchers study behavioral aspect of farmer suicides GS: 2 :EMPOWER IAS
Researchers study behavioral aspect of farmer suicides
In news:
- A study is being conducted under the National Agricultural Science Fund of IICAR in three states — Punjab, Telangana and Maharashtra.
Important facts:
- The study pointed out that till now the issue of farmer suicide was being looked at only from economic and agricultural angles.
- The study has looked at it from behavioural, psychological and cultural perspectives in addition to the earlier two.
- Since most discussions and parleys on suicides are overtaken by issues of crop failures, rising debts, new farming techniques, the psychological aspect is largely ignored
Major causes of suicide
- Since most discussions and parleys on suicides are overtaken by issues of crop failures, rising debts, new farming techniques, the psychological aspect is largely ignored.
- One of the major causes behind suicidal intent is depression, found the researchers.
- It needs to be understood that at times a farmer under a debt of Rs 2 lakh shows a tendency to end his life, while another under a debt of Rs 10 lakh does not.
Strategies to combat farmer's suicide in India:
- The study suggested roping in psychologists and counselors on various issues.
- They included battling depressive ruminations, suicidal ideations, negative cognitions, hopelessness, helplessness.
Model of 7’s:
- 7D' model of triggering and confounding factors and a '7R' model of preventive and protecting factors to deal with the problem of farmer suicides. The '7D' model encapsulates drugs, debt, disease, disputes, depression, disrepute and death.
- The '7R' model looks at prevention of suicides. It consists: remunerative agriculture, resilience building, and rational expenditure, reassurance through connectivity, righteous conduct, religious support and responsible reporting.
- In suicide-prone states, agricultural institutes and scientists should start distributing seeds of resilience, tolerance and contentment among farmers.
- Along with subsidies, increased farm profits, the focus should also be on resilience building and problem solving skills of farming families
- Experts underlined that farmers don’t need money only, they need motivation too.
- Agricultural universities can play a powerful role in dissipating the culture of shame associated with mental illness and depression as it is the fear of stigma that acts as a barrier to seek appropriate treatment
Sources)
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/researchers-study-behavioural-aspect-of-farmer-suicides-67075