1,500 farmers commit mass suicide in India (crop failure, debt)

[phantom power]

Over 1,500 farmers in an Indian state committed suicide after being driven to debt by crop failure, it was reported today.

The agricultural state of Chattisgarh was hit by falling water levels.

"The water level has gone down below 250 feet here. It used to be at 40 feet a few years ago," Shatrughan Sahu, a villager in one of the districts, told Down To Earth magazine

"Most of the farmers here are indebted and only God can save the ones who do not have a bore well."

Mr Sahu lives in a district that recorded 206 farmer suicides last year. Police records for the district add that many deaths occur due to debt and economic distress.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/1500-farmers-commit-mass-suicide-in-india-1669018.html

xpost:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5465845&mesg_id=5465845

[WhiteTara]

1. does the ceo of monsanto sleep at night?

I feel the same despair and outrage now as when this was first posted a few days ago.

[phantom power]

2. I'm a lot more worried by their water table than Monsanto.

They've used up their water. Doesn't matter what kind of seed they try to grow.

[depakid]

3. That is just an incredibly sad situation

It sort of illustrates the old addage about life being cheap in places like India.

[Dead_Parrot]

4. Not just India

There's been a steady stream of them in Oz for the last few years. And if the Great Plain states hit the bottom of the Ogallala Aquifer, you can have all the fun right at home.

[depakid]

7. Yep- fossil water. That'll be a mess down the line

A bit different that what's going on along the Murray Darling which will soon be much closer to home, for good.

Nevertheless- same bottom line.

THe most recent National Geographic had a bit about that:



Australia's Dry Run

What will happen when the climate starts to change and the rivers dry up and a whole way of life comes to an end? The people of the Murray-Darling Basin are finding out right now.

More: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/04/murray-darling/draper-text

[pscot]

5. I should probably feel something about this

But I don't. It just makes me shake my head in wonder, and wish the Republicon faithful would emulate it. Maybe if Fox news got behind it; self-rapture...

[ananda]

6. This is so sad.

Sigh