Karnataka farmer suicide: Bitter harvest in sugar bowl, two farmers dead
KALABURAGI/MYSURU: In a gut-wrenching episode, a 60 year-old farmer in distress over sliding prices of sugarcane at a time when he was in debt set fire to standing crop of sugarcane in 20 guntas land owned by him, and jumped into the leaping flames at Gaanadahosoor village in Pandavapura police station limits, Mandya district, on Thursday.
His suicide triggered a protest by hundreds of farmers who blocked traffic on Pandavapura-Bidar road for some time. Ningegowda, a physically challenged farmer, is survived by his wife Boramma and son Heeregowda, who, like his father, is physically challenged. He had borrowed Rs 2 lakhs but was worried about repaying the loan as Pandavapura sugar factory was closed (opens only July-end), and jaggery manufacturing units reportedly offered only Rs 600 for a ton of sugarcane.
He reportedly shared his anxiety about the debt with his kin on Wednesday night, and such worries forced him to take the extreme step, according to a complaint filed by his son Heeregowda. Police officers, however, said they did not find any suicide note. Police said Ningegowda, who had been to his field around 11.30 am, reportedly set the standing crop of sugarcane on fire and jumped into the flames. Farmers from nearby fields rushed to rescue him, but he was dead after suffering more than 70 per cent burns. Deputy commissioner, Ajay Nagabhushan, visited the spot and announced an ex gratia of Rs 1.5 lakhs to Ningegowda’s kin.
Police try to calm angry farmers on Pandavapura-Bidar road after Ningegowda immolated himself (Photo: DC)
Nanjundegowda K. S, Farmers’ leader and sugarcane grower, said: “Neither the state nor the Union governments are pro-farmer. They do not want to come out with permanent solutions for problems faced by farmers. As many as three farmers have died on Thursday. Atleast now, the state government should urge the Union government to fix a scientific price for sugarcane. The price offered by Jaggery manufacturing units earlier was Rs 1,800 to Rs 1,900 a ton of sugarcane, but it has now dropped below Rs 1,000. A farmer incurs an expenditure of about Rs 800 to just harvest and transport one ton. Hence, remunerative price for sugarcane should be based on expenditure incurred by farmers rather than the demand for sugar.”
Another incident
A sugarcane farmer, who consumed poison three days ago, died on Wednesday while another farmer and a couple, all in debt, battling for life in hospitals here and in Aland, sparking tension in the district on Thursday. Ratan Singh, 54, had borrowed from a local bank for sugarcane crop on six acres owned by him. He consumed poison as he could not withstand pressure from money lenders, and succumbed.
Meanwhile, Amlamma, 36, a Dalit woman and her husband swallowed poison in Shakapur village, Jewargi taluk. She had borrowed Rs two lakhs from a bank for cotton cultivation, but when she could not repay, she had an argument with her husband. Soon, both of them attempted suicide, according to local police. In Bhusnur village, Aland taluk, tension was palpable when Mallappa Mynale attempted suicide while demanding payment of arrears by NSL sugar factory.
