As garlic crop perishes due to rain, farmer ends life

Several farmers at Mannavanur and nearby villages have invested heavily to raise garlic crop

KODAIKANAL

A farmer allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide at Mannavanur village on upper Kodaikanal hill on Monday as the standing garlic plants in his farm completely perished owing to recent showers. A pall of gloom has descended on the village following his death.

The deceased was Muthusamy. The body was sent to Kodaikanal Government Hospital for a post-mortem.

After preliminary investigation, police said the standing garlic crop in his two-acre farm perished owing to root rot disease. The recent showers affected the crop and aggravated the disease.

No farm activities had taken place at Mannavanur and nearby villages for the past one year owing to acute drought and monsoon failure.

Moderate showers in May had motivated farmers to resume farm activities. Several farmers, including Muthusamy, had sown garlic. Intermittent showers helped the crop grow well.

But sharp showers that rocked the hills for the past one week destroyed the garlic crop. Muthusamy committed suicide as he could not bear the loss.

Several farmers at Mannavanur and nearby villages have invested heavily to raise garlic crop. Garlic is being raised on 10,000 acres at Mannavanur.

Kodaikanal hill has been receiving moderate to heavy showers for the past 15 days. The town and nearby areas received minor showers on Monday evening too.

Mannvanur, situated 40 km away from Kodaikanal, and nearby villages are major garlic producing centres on the hills. Normally, garlic is being cultivated on more than 10,000 acres at the village. A case has been registered in this connection.

The State’s health helpline 104 provides anti-suicide counselling and Chennai-based Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline is 044-24640050.