Landless farmer commits suicide

BARGARH: A landless farmer of Barahakanta village under Attabira Tehsil in the district allegedly ended his life by hanging from a tree on Tuesday.  Identified as Dayanindhi Bhue (30), he was cultivating cash crops  on ‘gochar’ land for the last couple of years.Bhue was growing brinjals but luck ran out when the seeds purchased from an agency in Attabira turned out to be of poor quality. The plants did not bear fruit leaving him  devastated.  Bhue’s family members said he had suffered continuous losses in the last two seasons and his crop was badly damaged due to extreme climatic conditions -- heavy rain and drought condition.  This had left Bhue financially broke leaving him under tremendous pressure. Moreover, since he did not own the land, he was also not  entitled for government compensation or insurance which only worsened things. Bhue, who shouldered the burden of his family, is survived by elderly parents and two unmarried sisters.Sources said many farmers in the area who planted brinjals on about 100 acres of land also faced similar fate.  Other problems like power failure and low voltage added to the farmers’ woes as it reflected on irrigation through lift irrigation points.With Bhue’s death the number of farmers’ suicides has gone up to three in the district.