Another farmer dies by suicide after crop loss; 10th death in 10 days in Odisha

Another farmer reportedly took his own life on Friday night by consuming poison due to alleged heavy crop loss in Koladiha village under Aul police station limits in Kendrapara district. The deceased has been identified as Kailash Chandra Dhal.

This is the tenth death of a farmer in the last 10 days in the state due to crop loss owing to the depression-induced untimely rainfall, reports said.

As per sources, Dhal had cultivated paddy on 8 acres of land but lost the vast majority of it after unseasonal rains last month destroyed his entire crop. Family members of the deceased linked his death to mounting financial pressures. Dhal had reportedly taken a loan of approximately Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 lakh and was under severe mental distress for several days over concerns about repaying the same after losing his crops to the rain.

Kumarsen Dhal, the dead farmer’s son reported that his father was crumbling under intense depression for the past ten days and despite family intervention took the extreme step after increased debt burden.

“My father had cultivated a good harvest on about 8 acres of land. For this, he had taken loans on interest from various sources amounting to Rs 3 lakh and was stressed about how to repay them. Despite consolation, he consumed poison and died in his sleep last night,” he added.

ALSO READ: Alarming! 7 farmers die in 7 days owing to alleged crop loss in Odisha

The incident once brought forth an alarming situation in the state where several farmers have either taken their lives or died out of shock after losing their crops in unseasonal and incessant rains that battered the state since December 19.

In the most recent case, two farmers from the Ranpur block of Nayagarh died after reported stress from crop loss and mounting debts. Earlier, at least seven farmers had died by suicide. 

ALSO READ: Odisha declares untimely rain as state calamity, pledges support to affected farmers

Meanwhile, the Mohan Majhi-led Odisha government has taken active steps to address the issue and even declared last month’s rains as a state calamity yesterday and assured farmers of all support at this time of distress.