2,575 farmers commit suicide in eight years

BHUBANESWAR: AS many as 2,575 persons engaged in farming and agricultural activities committed suicide during a eight-year period between 2000 and 2008.

  To a question from Nihar Mahanand of the Congress in the Assembly today, Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout said that compared to this 38,299 suicide cases were reported during the period.

 The highest number of 378 suicide cases of farmers was reported in 2004 followed by 365 cases in 2003. In 2008, 260 farmers’ suicide cases were reported.

 However, only 44 suicide cases have come to the notice of the State Government in 2009 and 2010 so far, he said.