Crop loss, debt drive two farmers to death

SAMBALPUR/NUAPADA: Two farmers of Sambalpur and Nuapada districts allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide on Sunday night over failed crop and debt burden. This is the fourth such suicide in Sambalpur district and second in Naupada.  One Ganesh Bhoi (47) of Sanatanpali village in Ghenupali gram panchayat of Jujumura block of Sambalpur committed suicide on Sunday night following three consecutive crop losses. Though he was rushed to VSS Medical at Burla, he died on the way.  He is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons aged 16 and 18 years. The youngest daughter is seven years old.Sources said Ganesh owned an acre of irrigated land besides two acres of non-irrigated land. He had availed a loan of  Rs. 70,000 from Ghenupali Co-operative Society last season besides other loans. But with monsoon playing truant and the area not receiving sufficient rainfall, his crop was badly affected. And the added pressure of repaying loans forced him to take the  extreme step.BJP leader Govind Agrawal, who called on the bereaved family, has demanded a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh. He also sounded a word of caution and urged the State Government to act swiftly to prevent further suicides.Farmer leader Ashok Pradhan said there was need to provide aid to the farmers. “The State Government was aware of meagre rainfall and drought-like situation and should have acted accordingly to stop desperate farmers from committing suicide,” he said.   A young farmer Namdev Sahu (38) of Khutman Behera village under Nuapada police limits too committed suicide on Sunday night by consuming pesticide. His crops were damaged in pest attack dashing all hopes of any return. He too was under debt.  The deceased farmer had availed of  Rs. 10,000 loan from Dharambandha branch of Utkal Gramya Bank during the last rabi crop and invested it in cultivating his 2 acres of land. But he was devastated after pests destroyed the crop. He again took a loan of  Rs. 20,000 from a shopkeeper in Panchampur village this kharif season but pests took a heavy toll on the crop again. He is survived by his wife, 12 year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son.