Two Odisha farmers commit suicide over crop loss

Amid fears of a possible drought due to scanty rainfall, crop loss and loan burden, two farmers allegedly committed suicide in Odisha's Bolangir and Sambalpur districts.

Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy on Saturday asked the district administration and agriculture officials to file a report on the suicide cases in two districts.

"I have asked the district administration to furnish reports over the death of farmers. If required, I will personally visit the areas to take stock of the ground reality," said Maharathy, describing the incidents as unfortunate.

Unable to bear crop loss, a farmer allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at Jharjhari village in Sambalpur district on Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Sanatan Mirdha.

The family members alleged that Mirdha had taken a loan for paddy cultivation but the weak monsoon played spoilsport resulting in crop loss and forcing him to take the extreme step.

Another farmer Bhakta Dharua also allegedly committed suicide in Patnagarh sub-division of Bolangir district on Friday. Gami Dharua, wife of the deceased farmer, said her husband had taken a loan from a bank in 2000.

However, unable to repay the loan in the stipulated time he was served a notice by the bank. Moreover, he lost most of the crop on his 4-acre farm due to rainfall deficit in the Kharif season, said Gami.

"Following the crop loss and loan burden, he was under severe mental stress which drove Dharua to this fate," said family sources.