'2 farmers die after crops loss in unseasonal rain’ in Odisha’s Nayagarh

In a distressing development, two farmers died on Friday in the Ranpur block of Nayagarh. They allegedly succumbed to the immense stress brought by the crop losses due to recent unseasonal rains in the district.

The deceased have been identified as Debaraj Barik, aged 65, and Bhagaban Pradhan, aged 62, both residents of Basudia village of Balabhadrapur panchayat.

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Their families have expressed that the stress of confronting significant crop damage was exacerbated by the weight of impending loan repayments. The burden of debt, combined with the loss of their crops, might have been too heavy a strain.

This incident highlights the precarious situation many farmers face across Odisha, as the recent rainfall-induced crop damages continue to threaten livelihoods and exacerbate financial hardship in agrarian communities.

“We had a very good production this season. The Paddy output of many farmers has been damaged by the unseasonal rainfall. My father was under tremendous financial pressure and he died from a brain stroke,” deceased farmer Bhagaban’s son Sambhu Pradhan stated.

“He was worried as to how to repay the loans that he had taken,” Sambhu added.

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“Most of our paddy crops have sprouted in the meantime. My father had gone to our farmland and after seeing it he became very perturbed. He was always thinking about the crop damage leading to his death,” deceased farmer Debaraj’s son Kailash Barik said.

On December 25 last year Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta asserted that the crops of the farmers in Odisha have been insured and all affected by the recent rainfall will be compensated by the State government soon.