Bhubaneswar: Shattered by crop loss due to unseasonal rain, a septuagenarian farmer in Odisha’s Kendrapada district allegedly committed suicide on Saturday. Another farmer reportedly died of a cardiac arrest in Jajpur district after the crops suffered extensive damage.
With this, the number of farmers who died following crop loss caused by unseasonal rain this month rose to five in the state. Earlier three farmers had allegedly died following crop loss du to rain in Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur and Ganjam districts.
In the latest incident, a farmer allegedly killed himself by consuming pesticide at Kosida village under Derabish police limits of Kendrapada district. He has been identified as Daitari Jena (72).
Sources said, Jena availed bank loan to cultivate his land. But after the unexpected rains damaged his crop, he reportedly consumed pesticide. His family members rushed him to the hospital, where he was declared dead.
In a similar development, a farmer reportedly died of a cardiac arrest under Chikana GP in Jajpur district on Saturday. He has been identified as Manibhadra Mohanty.
Family sources said Mohanty had taken several loans from different sources including cooperative societies, to cultivate his land. On Saturday morning, he went to inspect his 3-acre field where he grew paddy. After visiting his field, he realised the rain has not only damaged his crop, but has ended hope of repaying the debt. Unable to bear the shock, Mohanty reportedly collapsed.
He was rushed to the Binjharpur Community Health Center (CHC), but the doctor declared him dead, his family members rued.
The unseasonal rain between December 20 and 28 has caused widespread damage to standing crops and harvested paddy, leaving many farmers in Odisha distressed.
