The Maharashtra government informed the state Assembly that 6,667 farmers and agricultural workers died by suicide in 2023, highlighting the continuing agrarian distress in the state.
According to official data, the deaths include 4,150 farmers, 2,519 farm labourers, and 77 women farmers. The figures also show that 217 cases were reported from the drought-prone Marathwada region of Maharashtra.
Officials also admitted that several landless farmers who died by suicide are not included in the official count, raising concerns about underreporting.
Compensation Delays and Ground-Level Concerns
The data was presented amid growing criticism over delays in compensation to affected families and questions over the effectiveness of crop insurance schemes.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar raised the issue in the Assembly, alleging that many families were still waiting for financial assistance.
“These farmers’ families are running from pillar to post but the government is not helping them. Many compensation files are still pending on technical grounds,” Pawar said.
He demanded faster processing of aid and suggested setting up district and taluka-level committees to resolve compensation-related issues at the local level.
Government Response on Support and Land Transfer
In its reply, the state government said it is conducting awareness and outreach programmes for farmers and their families.
It also stated that efforts are being made to ensure benefits of welfare schemes reach affected families efficiently. The government added that after a farmer’s death, land will be transferred to the spouse’s name and property distribution among children will be simplified.
Crop Insurance System Under Debate
The Assembly was also informed about large-scale financial flows under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Between 2016 and 2025, insurance companies collected ₹55,425 crore in premiums, while paying out ₹39,918 crore in claims to farmers.
According to the data, insurance companies made a profit of ₹6,944 crore, within the permitted limit of up to 20%. Any excess profit, the government said, is returned to the state.
Under PMFBY, compensation is provided at ₹35,000 per hectare for irrigated crops and ₹17,000 per hectare for non-irrigated crops.
Scrapping of ₹1 Crop Insurance Scheme
The government also informed the Assembly that it has discontinued the earlier ₹1 crop insurance scheme, alleging misuse and irregularities.
Officials said crop loss assessment is now based on yield data and harvest season results, instead of flat-rate coverage.
Rising Agrarian Stress Remains a Key Concern
The data has once again highlighted the scale of agrarian distress in Maharashtra, with opposition leaders demanding stronger reforms in compensation delivery, insurance transparency, and rural financial support systems in Maharashtra.
