Dejected farmer razes standing sugarcane crop

MYSURU: Dejected at not getting a good price for sugarcane, a farmer from Nanjangud taluk destroyed his crop on Friday.
Umesh, a resident of Hechagalli village, which comes under chief minister Siddaramaiah's Varuna constituency, razed the standing sugarcane crop on his 3-acre field with an excavator.
Umesh, an electrical engineering graduate, took up agriculture after quitting his job at a private company in Nanjangud a few years ago.
Last year, a private sugar factory had entered into an agreement with Umesh to buy sugarcane from him. The factory harvested the crop too late - at 18 months. Umesh suffered heavy loss and tension because of this.
The farmer decided to destroy his crop because sugar factories are yet to start buying sugarcane and start crushing, and because the government has still not announced a buying rate. He tried to sell the crop to jaggery units, but none agreed to take it.
Umesh told TOI that he had borrowed Rs 1.5 lakh from private financiers believing he would get a good price for his crop. But his hope was dashed. "I was saddened over not getting a good price. I have no hope I will get a proper price for my crop next time also," he said.
The farmer said he has decided not to let his children take up agriculture for a living.