Six more Vidarbha farmers commit suicides, says NGO

Nagpur, July 1 (IANS) Six more Maharashtra farmers committed suicide in the last 72 hours, taking this year's toll to 422 in the Vidarbha region, said an NGO Sunday.

Delayed rains have caused panic among farmers who had sown seeds early June as there was heavy downpour for two days.

The weather department had forecast a normal monsoon. However, there has been no rainfall since then, said Kishor Tiwari, president of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), a farmers' advocacy group.

Tiwari said those who committed suicide in the last two days are Dhyaneshwar Tayade of Akola, Rajendra Wadhai of Gondia, Ramdas Hingwe of Wardha, Babulal Rathod, Vijay Pimpalshende and Ambadas Hatgoankar of Yavatmal.

The ground water level in Maharashtra has fallen to an alarming level and uncontrolled water pumping was adding to the agrarian crisis in the region, Tiwari said.

He added that rain sensitive crop like Bt. Cotton was making the situation difficult. Farmers who planned to shift to other crops like pulses did not get good quality seeds.

"We demand immediate government intervention to provide direct aid and quality seeds for the dry land farmers who plan to grow pulses, jawar, bajara and maize," he added.