Ramegowda (45) has allegedly committed suicide following the fall in tobacco prices.
The farmer’s suicide triggered a protest by Raitha Sangha members on Sunday who blocked the state highway 88 and staged a demonstration in front of assistant commissioner’s office here. The protesters demanded adequate compensation for Ramegowda’s family and urged the government to help stabilise the price of tobacco.
“Tobacco growers are not getting fair prices for their produce this year. We have brought the issue to the notice of MPs and the state government, but of no avail. Ramegowda had about two acres of land, growing tobacco.
The farmer had borrowed from banks for this year’s yield. But, the fall in prices shattered his hopes to repay his loan,” district Raitha Sangha president Hosur Kumar told reporters here. Vehicular traffic was held up for more than two hours when the farmers staged a rasta roko on state highway 88.
They also sat on a dharna in front of assistant commissioner’s office demanding a fair price on the tobacco and suitable compensation for the kin of the deceased farmer. “There will be more such farmer suicides in the coming days if the government does not wake up,” he added. MLA H P Manjunath visited the spot and paid his condolences to the farmer’s family. He paid Rs 25,000 to the kin and said he would talk to the authorities concerned about compensation to victim’s family.
Boycott
Meanwhile, tobacco growers have decided to boycott Monday’s (December 5) trading in the tobacco market across the state.
“We will observe a bundh on December 5 to make the government realise about the hardships faced by tobacco growers,” said Hosur Kumar.