Massive Drought Leads To Indian Farmer Suicides - 04/17/09

Submitted by Doug Cunningham on April 16, 2009 - 10:07pm
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Suicide rates for debt ridden Indian farmers are sky rocketing. Jesse Russell reports:

More than 1500 farmers in India have committed suicide over the past year as they face a massive and ongoing drought which is driving them into debt. According to Down To Earth magazine the water level in the region of Chhattisgarh (chuh-teez-gur) has dropped by more than 200 feet over only a handful of years. Without water the farmers have no crops to pay off lenders. According to the Organic Farming Association of India nearly 10,000 farmers across the country of India who were facing increasing debts committed suicide in the last decade. The government has stepped in to try and help the debt ridden farmers offering to waive farmer loans.