The spate of farmer's suicides in different parts of country is ascribed to changes in structural policies. These include:

(A) No rainfall

(B) Changed pattern of landholding

(C) Less number of farm helping hands/workers

(D) Shift to cash crops

(E) Individualization of agricultural operations

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(B), (D), (E) only

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.