Maharashtra Reports 767 Farmer Suicides in First Quarter of 2025

Maharashtra: In a written statement presented in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the state government reported a total of 767 farmer suicides between January and March 2025. The majority of these incidents were recorded in the Vidarbha region, which includes several districts traditionally known for their agricultural output. The data was disclosed by Makrand Patil, the state's Rehabilitation Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA, in a written response to the assembly.

According to the report tabled in the assembly, out of the 767 farmer suicides, 376 families were eligible to receive financial compensation under the government’s welfare program. However, 200 farmers' families did not qualify for assistance, as they failed to meet the stringent criteria set by the state government.

The western Vidarbha region, which includes districts such as Yavatmal, Amarawati, Akola, Buldhana, and Washim, has long been the epicentre of Maharashtra’s agrarian crisis. In just the first quarter of 2025, 257 farmer suicides were reported across these districts. While 76 families of the deceased farmers were granted financial assistance, 74 applications were disqualified due to non-eligibility.

In Marathwada, another region frequently affected by agricultural distress, 24 suicides were recorded in the same period, with the district of Hingoli reporting the highest number in the region. However, specific details regarding the assistance provided in this region were not immediately made available.