MARATHWADA: DRY FIELDS. DEAD HOPES. DISOWNED FARMERS.

“Marathwada doesn’t suffer from natural drought alone. It suffers from political drought — of will, vision, and accountability.”

A REGION ON THE EDGE

🌍 Marathwada is not in drought. It is in collapse.

🌍 In just the first half of 2025, 501 farmers have taken their lives

A staggering 31% increase from last year. Beed, Sambhajinagar, and Nanded lead this tragic count. These are not suicides. These are institutional failures — slow, predictable, and repeated.

🌍 Behind every death lies a perfect storm:

Crop failure due to erratic rainfall, unpayable debt, delayed or denied insurance, and the tyranny of market price manipulation.

🌍 Sugarcane, once seen as a money crop,

Now functions as a slow-acting poison in this water-starved region. But the real poison lies elsewhere — in the breakdown of policy response, empathy, and long-term vision.

SHIFTING PRIORITIES, SHRINKING ATTENTION

There was a time when the Indian farmer was the darling of political campaigns — front and center in manifestos, slogans, and rallies. That time has passed.

Today, political focus has decisively shifted to urban consumers, industrial expansion, startups, and aspirational narratives. While these are important pillars of a modern economy, the price of that shift has been paid by the rural farmer — often in silence, sometimes in blood.

The government's response has lacked urgency. Compensation delays, weak crop insurance enforcement, and absence of market support have eroded trust. The crisis is not just ecological — it is emotional, economic, and existential.

THE SUGARCANE ADDICTION MUST END

Sugarcane guzzles 18–22 million litres of water per acre annually. In a semi-arid zone like Marathwada, it is ecological suicide. But it continues to dominate the landscape, backed by legacy systems and cooperative politics.

The alternatives are already known. They just need institutional support and market assurance.

Viable Alternatives to Sugarcane:

• Millets (Jowar, Bajra, Ragi): Drought-resistant, low-input, high-nutrition

• Pulses (Tur, Moong, Chana): Short-cycle, MSP-backed, high market value

• Soybean: Water-light, industrial demand, local processing potential

• Oilseeds (Sunflower, Safflower): Residual moisture crops, fast turnover

• Dryland horticulture (Pomegranate, Custard Apple): Export potential, low water

The shift must not just be agronomic — it must be economic and institutional.

 WHAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST DO NOW

To enable farmers to make this crucial shift, the government must act decisively.

✅ 1. Incentivize the Shift

• Provide transitional subsidies for 3 years to support crop-switching

• Guarantee procurement of millets, pulses, and oilseeds at MSP

• Offer input support kits (seeds, drip irrigation tools) for new crops

✅ 2. Build the Market

• Set up decentralized processing units near farms (oil mills, dal mills)

• Enable FPOs and SHGs to supply institutions like schools and hospitals

• Promote a "Smart Farming" awareness campaign for consumers and buyers

✅ 3. Strengthen Water Management

• Enforce groundwater zoning to restrict sugarcane in critical areas

• Build farm ponds, check dams, and recharge pits at the panchayat level

• Ensure village-level water budgeting with community participation

✅ 4. Immediate Relief & Support

• Ensure compensation is disbursed within 15 days of any farmer suicide

• Provide support packages for families affected (pension, education)

• Deploy mental health support workers through local PHCs

THE WAY FORWARD: IMMEDIATE ACTIONS NEEDED

Priority	Action
Compensation	Fast-track suicide relief payments and insurance claims
Crop Shift	Incentives + MSP enforcement + input support
Market Building	Establish processing units + link FPOs to buyers
Water Management	Recharge structures + zoning + village-level planning
Mental Health	PHC-based counselors + SHG awareness + helpline

SUMMING UP

This is no longer about agriculture. It is about dignity. About survival. Every dead farmer is a scar on India’s conscience. And a question mark on its progress.

Marathwada doesn’t just need a monsoon. It needs a measured, humane policy shift — one that acknowledges the farmer, not as a nostalgic symbol, but as a cornerstone of national strength.

It is time for governments, institutions, and citizens to bring the farmer back to the center of India’s development priorities.