The “Farmer Suicide Prevention” project supports small-scale farmers in Solapur through horticulture, modern agricultural training, scientific pest management, drip irrigation, and sustainable farming practices to increase farm incomes and reduce economic vulnerability.

The Farmer Suicide Prevention project, implemented by Global Vikas Trust (GVT) in Solapur District, Maharashtra, addresses the financial challenges faced by small-scale farmers dealing with unpredictable weather, pests, crop losses, and unfavorable market conditions. These pressures have contributed to debt and economic insecurity among farming families. With support from IDS, GVT invested in a comprehensive horticulture initiative designed to improve agricultural productivity and farmer incomes. The project provided 67,895 high-quality saplings, including banana, mulberry, and mango, along with technical training at the GVT Krishikul center. Farmers were also supported with scientific pest-management techniques and modern farm-monitoring systems using GPS and geo-tagging. To promote sustainable agriculture, participating farmers adopted vermicompost in place of heavy chemical inputs and installed drip irrigation systems to improve water efficiency. The project also helped farmers plan their plantations by arranging high-quality plants in advance and providing access to agronomists for technical guidance. So far, 46 farmers, including 10 women, have transformed 54 acres of land into productive orchards. An indigenous ERP system tracks individual farms through GPS coordinates and activity photographs, allowing the project team to monitor progress and provide timely support. The project has already generated significant economic results. In the first group of participating farmers, 19 farmers have achieved annual earnings of more than ₹1 lakh per acre, while some have generated incomes exceeding ₹25 lakh. Increased agricultural income has the potential to improve household living conditions, support children's education, and reduce the financial pressures that contribute to farmer distress. By combining horticulture, technology, sustainable farming practices, irrigation improvements, and technical support, the project aims to create more resilient and financially secure farming communities in Solapur.