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Nearly 43.42 million farmer households in India are reported to be indebted i.e. having a liability in cash or kind value at Rs.300 or more at the time of a transaction. In terms of percentage, this represents 48.6 %, out of 89.35 million farmer households in the country. At the all India level, it is estimated that there are 147.90 million rural households out of which 60.4 per cent i.e. 89.35 million are farmer households. This is revealed in a survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, during 2003 on “Indebtedness of Farmer Households.”
The survey formed part of the 59th Round of the Sample Survey held by the National Sample Survey Organisation in 2003. This report will be followed by four more, highlighting various aspects of the subject. The Sample Survey covered in all 51,770 farmer households spread over 6,638 villages across the length and breadth of the country.
The Report also revealed that the estimated prevalence of indebtedness among farmer households was the highest in Andhra Pradesh (82.0 %) followed by Tamil Nadu (74.5%) and Punjab (65.4%). However, Uttar Pradesh topped in the estimated number of indebted farmer households i.e. 6.9 million followed by Andhra Pradesh 4.9 million and Maharashtra 3.6 million. Rural Households with one hectare or less land accounted for 66% of the farming community and 45% of them were indebted.
The most important source of loan in terms of percentage of outstanding amounts was the Banks (36%) followed by moneylenders (26%). Average outstanding loan per farmer household was the highest in Punjab followed by Kerala, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu. More than 50% of indebted farmer households had taken loan for capital or current expenditure in farm business. Such loans accounted for 584 rupees out of every 1000 rupees of outstanding loan. Marriages and ceremonies accounted for 111 rupees per 1000 and in this, Bihar topped with 229, followed by Rajasthan 176 per thousand.
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