Two farmers die in Nashik after rain damage to crops

A farmer committed suicide and another suffered a heart attack in Nashik district, over the weekend, apparently depressed over the destruction of their produce in the recent unseasonal heavy rain and hailstorm.

According to the police, Atmaram Seetaram Pawar had gone to spray insecticide in the fields growing onions, gram and pomegranates on Sunday. But when he did not return home, his family went in search of him in Daregaon village.

The family members found his body lying in the field. The police said it appeared he may have consumed insecticide, overcome by the pain of the destruction of the crop. Pawar's is survived by his parents, his wife, a son and two daughters.

Intermittent rain showers are continuing in the region deepening the worry for villagers, most of whom depend on agriculture. They appeared to have a good crop of rabi grains and fruit till heavy rain and hailstorm over the past fortnight left very little for them to harvest. Nashik is also a major onion growing region.

In Jaikheda village of Baglan tehsil, Krishna Bhika Jagtap, aged 60, apparently died following a heart attack on Saturday. Villagers said Jagtap had been under stress because of the damage in his onion field due to the rain.

Most small farmers commonly take loans from banks and local credit societies and they would be worried that the destruction of their crops will leave them with huge debts.

The rain and hailstorm has affected crops in about two-third of the districts in the state. The government has promised assistance to those who have suffered losses and it is in the process of assessing the damage.