Bhawanipatna: Devastated on seeing his withered crop, a farmer attempted suicide by consuming pesticide at Nagupada in Jaipatna block of Kalahandi district.
Krupa Naik, 63, took the extreme step at his farm Friday night, according to his family. He was rescued and admitted to the Jaipatna community health centre. The farmer was subsequently shifted to the district headquarters hospital and later referred to Burla-based VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research where his condition remained stable after treatment.
“Due to scanty rain, standing crop in my four acre farm was completely damaged. I have no wherewithal to run my family and repay the loans I have taken for cultivation,” Krupa said on the hospital bed.
According to Krupa’s son, his father had grown paddy and pulses. However, due to erratic rainfall, the crops faced acute moisture stress and there was no hope for even average yield. Krupa had taken a loan of Rs 20,000 from a bank and was under stress following the crop loss.
In the last four months, two farmers have allegedly committed suicide after facing crop loss in the district. Parmeswar Lahajal, 26, of Gambhariguda under Koksara block had ended his life by consuming poison October 25. A cotton farmer, Bahadur Rana, of Madiguda under Bhawanipatna block had committed suicide August 5.
PNN