WB: Potato farmers attempt suicide in Arambagh

Hooghly, Mar 25: Two debt-ridden potato farmers attempted suicide in the district's Nakunda village under Goghat police station last night, officials said today.

The farmers, who incurred heavy losses due to bumper crop in the district, especially in Arambagh sub-division, reportedly, consumed poison. The duo had been admitted to Arambagh sub-divisinal hospital, where they were stated to be in a serious condition.

SDO Subhanjan Das admitted the incident and said the situation in this sub-division was of great concern.

Meanwhile, D M Vinod Kumar has convened an emergency meeting tomorrow to tackle the problem faced by the potato farmers in the district.

Due to bumper crop in the districts, farmers were being forced into selling the potatoes at about one-third the cost of growing them. The farmers, hence incurr huge losses as they were unable to pay off their loans.

Earlier on Saturday, a potato farmer in Bardhaman district committed suicide, following bumper crop in the district.

UNI