Which of the following is not a reason for agrarian distress?

Heavy migration to cities

The correct answer is Option (3) → Heavy migration to cities

Heavy migration to cities is not considered a cause of agrarian distress. Agrarian distress usually pertains to challenges or difficulties faced within the agricultural sector itself, such as changes in cropping patterns, landholding patterns, or shifts to cash crops, which can impact farmers' livelihoods and economic stability.

NCERT Text: The spate of farmers’ suicides that has been occurring in the different parts of the country since 1997-98 can be linked to the ‘agrarian distress’ caused by structural changes in agriculture and changes in economic and agricultural policies. These include: the changed pattern of landholdings; changing cropping patterns especially due to the shift to cash crops; liberalisation policies that have exposed Indian agriculture to the forces of globalisation; heavy dependence on high-cost inputs; the withdrawal of the state from agricultural extension activities to be replaced by multinational seed and fertiliser companies; decline in state support for agriculture; and individualisation of agricultural operations. According to official statistics, there have been 8,900 suicides by farmers between 2001 and 2006 in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra