THE ECONOMIC REFORMS SINCE 1991 AND ITS IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE SECTOR OF WAYANAD

The Indian farmers are trapped in a vicious circle of crop-loss, low price and indebtedness, which lead to dilapidated conditions in agriculture. It is generally accepted that agricultural activity is a noble profession. However nature’s fury, exploitation of the market and negligence on the part of the authorities compel the farmers and agriculturists to do away with extensive cultivation. In recent years, the noble profession of Agriculture has become non-profitable to farmers. The contribution of agricultural sector to National income estimation declined from 55 % in 1950-51 to 18 % in 2007-08, while people’s dependency on agriculture remains almost the same. This paper studies impact of economic reform in Indian economy particularly agriculture sector of Wayanad. The Indian state has launched unprecedented relief and rehabilitation measures in response to the suicide crisis. This article makes a strong case for grounding the study of farmers ’ suicides in ethnographies of agrarian practice and the local developmental state