Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 73
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
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 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
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deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::printArticle() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 73
Cake\Controller\Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 610
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 94
Cake\Http\BaseApplication::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/BaseApplication.php, line 235
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
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Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php, line 88
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 74
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
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 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
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deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::printArticle() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 74
Cake\Controller\Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 610
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 94
Cake\Http\BaseApplication::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/BaseApplication.php, line 235
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/RoutingMiddleware.php, line 162
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php, line 88
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Code Context
            if (Configure::read('debug')) {

                trigger_error($message, E_USER_WARNING);

            } else {
$response = object(Cake\Http\Response) {

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-The Economic Times&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the &#039;suicide capital&#039; of the country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers&#039; lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)&lt;/em&gt;
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-The Economic Times

As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like...&#039;,
	&#039;disp&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;-The Economic Times&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the &#039;suicide capital&#039; of the country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers&#039; lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
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As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the &#039;suicide capital&#039; of the country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers&#039; lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)&lt;/em&gt;
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-The Economic Times

As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like...&#039;
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As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like..."/>
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                <strong>As the monsoon plays truant, suicide by farmers likely to manifest again-KK Narayanan</strong></h1>
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                <div align="justify">-The Economic Times<br /><br />As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the 'suicide capital' of the country.<br /><br />There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.<br /><br />Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.<br /><br />In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.<br /><br />The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers' lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.<br /><br />The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.<br /><br />A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.<br /><em><br />(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)</em></div>               </font>
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-The Economic Times&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the &#039;suicide capital&#039; of the country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers&#039; lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)&lt;/em&gt;
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As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like...&#039;,
	&#039;disp&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;-The Economic Times&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the &#039;suicide capital&#039; of the country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers&#039; lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
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As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the &#039;suicide capital&#039; of the country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers&#039; lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)&lt;/em&gt;
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-The Economic Times

As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like...&#039;
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-The Economic Times

As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like..."/>
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                <strong>As the monsoon plays truant, suicide by farmers likely to manifest again-KK Narayanan</strong></h1>
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                <div align="justify">-The Economic Times<br /><br />As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the 'suicide capital' of the country.<br /><br />There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.<br /><br />Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.<br /><br />In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.<br /><br />The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers' lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.<br /><br />The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.<br /><br />A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.<br /><em><br />(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)</em></div>               </font>
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-The Economic Times&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the &#039;suicide capital&#039; of the country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers&#039; lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)&lt;/em&gt;
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-The Economic Times

As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like...&#039;,
	&#039;disp&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;-The Economic Times&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the &#039;suicide capital&#039; of the country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers&#039; lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
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&lt;br /&gt;
As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the &#039;suicide capital&#039; of the country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers&#039; lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)&lt;/em&gt;
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-The Economic Times

As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like...&#039;
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-The Economic Times

As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like..."/>
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                <strong>As the monsoon plays truant, suicide by farmers likely to manifest again-KK Narayanan</strong></h1>
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                <div align="justify">-The Economic Times<br /><br />As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the 'suicide capital' of the country.<br /><br />There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.<br /><br />Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.<br /><br />In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.<br /><br />The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers' lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.<br /><br />The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.<br /><br />A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.<br /><em><br />(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)</em></div>               </font>
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-The Economic Times<br />
<br />
As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the 'suicide capital' of the country.<br />
<br />
There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.<br />
<br />
Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.<br />
<br />
In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.<br />
<br />
The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers' lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.<br />
<br />
The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.<br />
<br />
A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.<br />
<em><br />
(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)</em>
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-The Economic Times

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-The Economic Times<br />
<br />
As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the 'suicide capital' of the country.<br />
<br />
There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.<br />
<br />
Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.<br />
<br />
In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.<br />
<br />
The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers' lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.<br />
<br />
The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.<br />
<br />
A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.<br />
<em><br />
(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)</em>
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-The Economic Times

As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like...'
$disp = '<div align="justify">-The Economic Times<br /><br />As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the 'suicide capital' of the country.<br /><br />There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers.<br /><br />Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated.<br /><br />In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009.<br /><br />The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers' lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed.<br /><br />The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis.<br /><br />A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis.<br /><em><br />(The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)</em></div>'
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As the monsoon plays truant, suicide by farmers likely to manifest again-KK Narayanan

-The Economic Times As the monsoon plays truant, the tragic face of our agrarian distress, suicide by farmers, is likely to manifest again in several parts of the country. A state like Maharashtra, where large acreages of a cash crop like cotton are grown under rain-fed conditions, is particularly vulnerable to such vagaries of weather and has, for long, remained the 'suicide capital' of the country. There is credible data to show that with the advent of Bt cotton, cotton production and productivity in the country have gone up. However, activists have held that technologies such as Bt cotton have only aggravated the condition of cotton farmers, leave alone mitigating their distress. They argue that such technologies are particularly unsuitable for rain-fed areas, and if at all any benefits are derived in terms of production and productivity, it is only from well-irrigated areas in Gujarat and some other states. Some of these activists even go to the extent of directly holding Bt cotton seeds responsible for the tragic and unfortunate suicides by farmers. Is this blame justified, or is it just borne out of the antipathy towards a technology or its purveyors or both? To attempt to answer this question, an analysis of the spread of Bt cotton in Maharashtra and the incidence of farmer suicides during 2002-10 would be useful. Maharashtra has the largest cotton acreage in the country and most of the area under cultivation is unirrigated. In 2002, Bt cotton was just officially introduced, but by 2010, over 90% of the total cotton area was covered by the crop. During that period, the total number of farmer suicides in the state, as per data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau - that, incidentally, is also quoted by activists - was 34,110, with an average of 3,790 every year. The highest number, 4,453, was in 2006, while the lowest, 2,872, was in 2009. The trend of change in acreage of Bt cotton in the state and the reported farmer suicides over these years (see accompanying graph) should run parallelly had there been any association between Bt cotton and the unfortunate suicides by farmers. However, as is evident, that is not the case! Therefore, blaming a technology like Bt cotton for the tragic loss of our farmers' lives cannot be justified. In fact, by doing so, we would be distracted from identifying the real causes that only then can be addressed. The purpose of this article is not merely to absolve Bt cotton but to emphasise the larger point that we should not miss identifying the real problems and the potential solutions because of ideological blinkers. It is true that agriculture in our country is facing a serious crisis. A large section of our farmers is in deep misery. It is indeed unfortunate and a matter of shame that farmers in this country are driven to commit suicide in relatively large numbers. Even one life lost in this manner is one too many. We have to focus on the real problems that lead to this tragedy; it could be indebtedness, lack of support systems when crops fail, lack of adequate and stable markets, and several more. Technology cannot be the only solution, but then, it cannot be discounted as it would certainly find a crucial place in a total package that would address our present agrarian crisis. (The author is managing director of Bangalore-based agricultural biotechnology firm Metahelix Life Sciences)