Sustainable Development of Agricultural Tradition and Modernization: A Review Study in Light of Farmer Suicides in the Marathwada Region

Sonali R. Kharatmal

Abstract: The agrarian crisis in India has emerged as one of the most persistent development challenges of the twenty-first century, with farmer suicides representing its most tragic manifestation. The Marathwada region of Maharashtra has witnessed disproportionately high levels of agrarian distress due to chronic drought, ecological fragility, and socio-economic vulnerability. This review paper critically examines the relationship between agricultural tradition, modernization, and sustainable development in the context of farmer suicides in Marathwada. Drawing upon interdisciplinary literature from sustainable agriculture, environmental studies, agrarian economics, and rural development, the study highlights how unbalanced modernization-characterized by input-intensive farming, market dependency, and ecological neglect-has undermined traditional resilient farming systems. The review argues that sustainable agriculture, grounded in ecological balance, indigenous knowledge, climate resilience, and institutional support, provides a viable pathway to reduce agrarian distress. By synthesizing existing research, policy reports, and empirical studies, the paper identifies key gaps in sustainability-oriented interventions and proposes region-specific strategies aligned with long-term farmer well-being. The study contributes to academic discourse by reframing farmer suicides as a sustainability failure rather than merely an economic phenomenon, thereby emphasizing the need for holistic agrarian transformation.

Keywords: Sustainable agriculture, farmer suicides, Marathwada, agricultural modernization, ecological resilience, traditional farming

How to Cite?: Sonali R. Kharatmal, "Sustainable Development of Agricultural Tradition and Modernization: A Review Study in Light of Farmer Suicides in the Marathwada Region", Volume 15 Issue 2, February 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 184-186, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26202224322, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26202224322