Sugarcane farmer Rajendra's son Madhu says his father had taken loans from banks as well as private money lenders
13 farmers have committed suicide in the last 20 days in the sugarcane belt of Mandya in Karnataka. Sugarcane prices have fallen and sugar factories have not been always been paying farmers for the crop they have taken.
NDTV visited the house of Rajendra, a sugarcane farmer who committed suicide last month.
His son, Madhu, said he had taken some loans from banks - but others from private moneylenders who charge exorbitant interest.
His wife, Sunanda, spoke of the uncertainty of the future.
Rajendra had painstakingly compiled the list of his loans. The list was found at home and another copy in his pocket after he hanged himself.
Rajendra was for 33 years a member of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), a farmers' organisation. KS Nanjundegowda, KRRS State Organizing Secretary, said the state and central governments were not applying their mind to the issue, and that they needed to make sure imported sugar was not cheaper than sugar produced in India.
Local authorities are trying to tackle the money lender menace.
Mandya Superintendent of Police Bhushan Gulab Rao Borase told NDTV that meetings were being held with farmers and pamphlets are being distributed warning them to keep away from moneylenders.
Sugarcane fields continue to stand but many farmers are stressed and bitter.