Suicides high on French farms

Suicides by French farmers occur at the rate of one every two days, a study commissioned by the French agricultural ministry said. Financial difficulties and social isolation were the principal reasons, the report from health watchdog Institute de Veille Sanitaire said, noting suicide is the third-highest cause of death among farmers in France, behind cancer and heart disease. The suicide rate among male farmers was 20 percent higher than that of the general French population, Radio France Internationale reported Friday, noting 417 farming men, and 68 women, took their lives between 2007 and 2009. Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll promised "determined action" to improve rural incomes Thursday, RFI said.