Unseasonal rain pushes Gujarat farmers to extreme action: 6 suicides in 25 days, ₹10,000-cr relief package yet to reach them

Unseasonal rain has deepened the agricultural crisis in Gujarat, damaging crops across 42 lakh hectares and impacting farmers in more than 16,000 villages. The widespread destruction of standing crops has triggered severe financial distress, leading to six farmer suicides in the past 25 days.

The latest incident was reported from Ishwariya village in Visavadar, where 42-year-old farmer Shaileshbhai Savaliya consumed poison in his field. He had sown groundnut, onion and pigeon pea on his eight-bigha farm, but unseasonal showers washed away his groundnut and pigeon pea crops. Struggling with mounting debt and uncertainty about future livelihood, he reportedly took the extreme step.

Similar suicides reported from across the state

Ardoi village, Asangani taluka: A 50-year-old farmer from Rajkot’s Kotda Sangani area died by suicide.

Revaniya village, Vinchhiya taluka: 49-year-old Gaffarbhai Unde jumped into a well.

Rabarika village, Shihor taluka (Bhavnagar district): A 65-year-old farmer ended his life.

Manpur village, Devbhoomi Dwarka: Karshanbhai Vanoriya (37) died by suicide.

The Gujarat government has announced a ₹10,000-crore agricultural relief package, but affected farmers claim that not a single rupee of compensation has reached them yet. With crop losses mounting and no clarity on when aid will be disbursed, the fear of more farmer distress looms large.

Farmers’ groups say the crisis reflects a widening gap between policy announcements and on-ground support, as rural families continue to battle debt, crop failure and uncertainty about the upcoming Rabi season.

Moreover, farmer leaders have also alleged that farmers in Gujarat were denied benefits under the Chief Minister Kisan Sahay Yojana.

In 2020, the Chief Minister Kisan Sahay Yojana had specified that... 

Farmers experiencing over 60% crop damage would receive ₹25,000 per hectare, up to 4 hectares.

Clause 9(g) of the scheme allowed full aid under both the Kisan Sahay Yojana and SDRF.

However, the government’s latest relief measures reduced the per-hectare amount and restricted the maximum eligible land to 2 hectares, effectively cutting the total compensation for farmers. 

Currently, affected farmers are receiving only ₹44,000 under this package, instead of the maximum ₹1.4 lakh they could have received under the original rules.