Debt-ridden tobacco farmer ends life by consuming insecticide

Hunsur: Unable to repay the loan, a young tobacco farmer committed suicide by consuming poison on July 30 at Hunagalli in Hanagodu Hobli here. The deceased farmer has been identified as Manchegowda (35), son of Siddegowda. He leaves behind parents, wife and two children. It is gathered that Manchegowda cultivated tobacco on the 5.5-acre land owned by his father. He had availed a loan of Rs 6.6 Crore from the Kaveri Grameena Bank for agricultural purposes. In the last two years the tobacco crop failed to generate expected returns. This year too the tobacco crops failed due to the heavy rains and this is believed to have disheartened the young farmer. Unable to bear the mounting debt, Manchegowda had consumed insecticide on Monday evening when nobody was at home. Though he was admitted to a hospital at Hunsur, he could not be saved. Manchegowda's father has complained to the Siddegowda Rural Police that his son took the extreme step fearing the mounting debt burden. Source: News Karnataka