New Delhi: With unseasonal rains wreaking havoc on crops ahead of harvest season, and no relief in sight, beleaguered farmers are contemplating selling off their land - or suicide.
The north and eastern parts of the country have been hit by heavy unseasonal rains or hailstorm over the last two weeks. More than half-a-dozen states, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been badly hit. And while most state governments have ordered relief for farmers, the money is yet to reach.
"Where will the farmer pay back loans from? There is no money to even buy medicines. What should I do, kill myself," said 55-year-old Bhagirath, a farmer in Barabanki district in Uttar Pradesh, who is saddled with a loan of Rs 35,000.
In Borisinh village of Maharashtra's Yavatmal, 55-year-old Himmat Umate hanged himself on March 12 - three days after heavy showers flattened his field.
In suicide country Vidrabha, of which Yavatmal is a part, farmers like Umate have suffered a double blow. They lost their kharif crop to a prolonged drought and now, the rabi harvest has been hit by rain.
Wheat has been the biggest casualty of the March rains - in most of the seven states, the crop has been practically destroyed. The other crops that have taken a hit include legumes and grains like soyabean, jowar, mustard, barley pulses, gram and even fruits - watermelon, grapes and mango. The potato crop and other seasonal vegetables have also been badly affected.
In Punjab, farmers face losses of around Rs 3000 crore. They told NDTV they are allowed compensation only for wheat and not for any other crop.
In Rajasthan, almost 50 per cent of the crop in 26 of the state's 33 districts has been affected, said the state government. In Maharashtra, an estimated 6,000 hectares of farmland has been affected.
The Madhya Pradesh government website says 450 villages in 14 districts have been affected by hailstorm.
Haryana will see losses of around Rs 1600 crore with 25 per cent of its entire wheat crop and 20 per cent of its entire mustard crop being affected.