Adilabad farmer dies by suicide over mounting debts after cotton crop failure

A 60-year-old farmer died by suicide in Adilabad after allegedly struggling with mounting debts following cotton crop failure. The district reported six farmer suicides in October, amid a 32 per cent rainfall deficit and worsening agrarian distress.

Adilabad: The district continues to see an alarming number of farmers’ suicides following the crop failure triggered by El Nino in recent times. In the latest instance, a farmer died by suicide after he was allegedly distressed over mounting debts at Warthamannur village on Thursday.

Police said that Paracha Bheemrao (60) from the village attempted to die by suicide by consuming pesticide on November 1. He was immediately shifted to RIMS-Adilabad. He succumbed during treatment early in the morning.

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Family members claimed that Bheemrao was depressed over his inability to repay mounting debts after the cotton crop withered due to scanty rainfall. He raised the cotton crop by investing Rs 3 lakh availed through loans from banks.

In October alone, six farmers died by suicide across the district, underscoring deepening agrarian crisis. Earlier, 15 farmers were forced to kill themselves from January 1 to September 30. The district registered a rainfall of 680 mm as against normal rainfall of 1,030 mm from June 1 to October 1, reflecting a deficit by 32 percent.