Explain Seed suicides in India.

"Seed suicides" in India refer to a phenomenon where farmers, primarily in regions with high adoption rates of genetically modified (GM) crops, experience crop failures and financial distress due to the inability to save and reuse patented GM seeds. Typically, GM seeds are engineered to produce crops with desirable traits such as pest resistance or higher yields, but they come with strict patent restrictions that prohibit farmers from saving and replanting seeds from their harvests. As a result, farmers become dependent on purchasing expensive GM seeds from seed companies each planting season.

In cases where crops fail or yields are insufficient to cover the cost of purchasing new seeds, farmers can fall into a cycle of debt and economic hardship, leading to desperation and, in extreme cases, suicide. The term "seed suicides" highlights the tragic consequences of the economic vulnerabilities and livelihood insecurities faced by smallholder farmers, particularly in regions where agriculture is the primary source of income. This issue has sparked debates about agricultural policies, seed regulations, intellectual property rights, and the socio-economic impacts of GM crop adoption in India.