Bitter harvest: farmers kill selves

SahaEXTREME weather conditions over the past few weeks have destroyed crops in several states, triggering farmers' suicides. In all, over 300 farmers reportedly killed themselves in Andhra Pradesh (275), Odisha (36) and Madhya Pradesh (7), the worst hit states. Media reports said some of the deaths were caused by heart attacks following crop failure.

Crops in Madhya Pradesh were damaged by frost and extreme cold. Unseasonal rains in December destroyed crops in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Parts of Rajasthan and Jharkhand also reported crop losses. Officials said they did not anticipate such extreme weather conditions.

In Andhra Pradesh, paddy crops that were ready to be harvested were damaged by unseasonal rains in the first week of December, said Balram Nayak, additional director for agriculture. The state's estimates say over 3 million farmers have been affected by crop damage on 1.5 million hectares (ha). Total crop loss in the state is 1.88 million tonnes.

Met officials said the unseasonal rains were caused by La Nina (weather condition induced by extensive cooling of central and eastern Pacific Ocean). In Madhya Pradesh, where instances of farmers committing suicide are rare, Udai Singh, 28, said he drank pesticide when frost ruined wheat and pulses on his 6-ha farm in January first week. He survived. "I have to repay Rs 2 lakh. Death seemed the only escape," he said.


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