According to data from India's National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 10,546 people in the farming sector died by suicide in 2024. This figure includes 4,633 farmers and cultivators, and 5,913 agricultural laborers, marking a 2% decline from the 10,760 suicides recorded in 2023.
The data, released by the Ministry of Agriculture, shows that the number of farmer suicides has decreased from 5,579 in 2023 to 4,633 in 2024, while agricultural laborer suicides dropped from 5,181 to 5,913. However, the total remains high, with Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana reporting the highest numbers.
Experts attribute the decline to improved crop insurance schemes and direct income support programs, though they caution that debt and climate stress continue to drive distress in rural areas. The government has not yet commented on the latest figures.
