post news network
Saranda, Bhubaneswar, Dec 15: The number of farmers who have committed suicide in Bargarh reportedly owing to farm crisis rose to 12 Friday as another farmer ended his life in the district, which is known as rice bowl of the state. Umesh Jagdala (35), a farmer from Bhalupali village under Attabira police limits, had reportedly fallen into a debt trap after his crops were damaged by pests. Umesh’s widow Bimala claimed he had cultivated paddy on his half-acre plot and sharecropped on three more acres. She said he had borrowed Rs1 lakh from SHGs and money lenders but was able to harvest only 12 sacks of paddy. The poor yield had put him under stress.
Umesh had left home about 9 am Thursday and was found lying on his farmland about 11am; he is suspected to have consumed poison.
However, the government has denied that it is a case of farmer suicide. Agriculture minister Damodar Rout said the reason for the death will be known only after revenue and police officials complete their investigation. “Following crop loss, they (farmers) are facing problems. But, whether they are committing suicide owing to agricultural problems or not, cannot be said without proper investigation. In cases wherein investigation has been completed, it has been confirmed that the deaths were not the result of agriculture related problems,” Rout told reporters here Friday.
Bargarh’s farm crisis related suicides began with Indra Bariha (October 26) and has continued with the death of Jagdish Budek, Akhaya Dharai, Brundaban Sahu, P Naveen Kumar, Bhakta Bhue, Pradeep Khamari, Debananda Thapa, Umakanta Sahu, Arjun Satnami and Daitarni Rana. Rout had during the Assembly winter session stated that 750 farmers had committed suicide between 2010 and 2015. However, he has maintained that crop losses and loan burden had not pushed these farmers to commit suicide.
