Farmer attempts suicide over pest attack

SONEPUR:Harassed by pest attack, a farmer of Sonepur district attempted to kill self by consuming pesticide on Wednesday. He has been admitted to Dungripali Community Health Centre (CHC) and his condition is critical. The farmer is Khageswar Dash (50) of   Sulei village of Andharibanji gram panchayat under Dungripali block.

According to reports, Khageswar had cultivated paddy over four acres of land but was devastated after Brown Plant Hopper pest damaged his standing crops. On Wednesday noon, Khageswar left for his farm land where he consumed pesticide. Farm labourers working in nearby fields saw him struggling and informed his brother Gangadhar Dash, who along with family members rushed to the field and admitted him to Dungripali CHC.

Gangadhar said that Khageswar was mentally stressed seeing his crops lost due to pest attack as he had borrowed money for the cultivation.Contacted, Sonepur Collector Dasrathi Satpathy said he has directed the District Agriculture Officer to visit the affected farm land of Khageswar and assess crop loss. He said that all required support and assistance to the farmers would be provided.