No end to farmer suicide in Odisha, another ends life

8 die since Nov 1, Odisha govt treats crop loss as natural calamity

BY GOPAL ADHIKARI

Rayagada. Dec. 3: A farmer in Rayagada district died on Sunday after battling for life at hospital for over a week in hospital.

The deceased was identified as Narendra Hikaka.

Haling from Malisiripur of Bissam-Cuttack block had consumed poison on November 26 over alleged crop loss and was undergoing treatment at local Christian hospital.

Family members alleged that Hikaka was in mental duress after the cotton and paddy crops that he had grown in nearly four acres and vegetables in two acres of land were destroyed by the pests.

Moreover, Hikaka had taken bank loan and also borrowed money from other sources for farming.

As many as eight farmers in the state have committed suicide since November 1 due to crop damage caused by pest named brown planthopper attack this year.

The Odisha government has declared the pest attack is a natural calamity and affected farmers would be compensated as per the relief code.

Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan, after reviewing the situation through video conferencing, has stressed on several measures to tackle the situation.

“District collectors have been asked to intensify awareness drives and revenue personnel, self help groups and other grassroots level workers will be mobilized,” said Mr Balakrishnan.

The state government has already directed for disbursal of assistance for Rabi crops and at present there is no need for the farmers to panic, he said.