There have been several suicides of Australians whose farms have been wiped out by drought in recent years. And there have been so many farmer suicides in India in recent years in reaction to bad weather that it's now a sick fad to the point of ridiculousness.
One young Indian farmer didn't even try to see what could be salvaged for sale or attempt to get a loan from relatives to tide him over after his crops where hit by a storm. He went straightaway to the main tree in his village and hung himself. (The villagers cut down the tree after they cut him down.)
Suicide in response to drought is a story as old as farming. There were many such suicides during the droughts on the Great Plains in Depression-era America. It takes true grit to face down a long drought when one's livelihood is directly dependent on rainfall.
So I thought it would be appropriate to feature some of the Telegraph's pictures of Australians who've refused to cave in.
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| Dave Fleming on his parched farm in Walgett Picture: Peter Lorimer |
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| Annastacia Palaszczuk on a property near Barcaldine Picture: Mark Calleja |
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| Drought effect on grazier Richard Kinnon’s property Picture: Mark Calleja |
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| Cattle rancher Emma Forster on her "Werna" ranch near Winton Picture: Adam Head |
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