Burdwan , 04 Mar. 04 :  Potato firming is no longer a profitable one in Burdwan district, once known to be the highest grower of the crop. The black shed of Andhra's cotton farmers woeful story comes to Burdwan. Last night a potato farmer named Rabindranath Ghosh (38 years) of Bishkoba village, Memari Block-2 committed suicide at his potato field, expecting a massive loss this time for 'Dhasa' (blight), a infectious disease of potato. Farmers usually borrow money from local 'mahajaans' for their firming. Rabindranath Ghosh also borrowed money from local 'mahajan' for his firming. Potato farmers are very much worried about this infectious disease. Rabindranath was already in debt and was expecting a huge loss due to this destructive disease. 

Last night at around 8 p.m. he committed suicide after consuming pesticide in his potato field. Immediately he was rushed to Burdwan Medical College & Hospital where he died this morning.

Rabindranath's brother Swapan Ghosh told bardhaman.com "My elder brother firms our land as well as some land of Shyamal Ghosh on a share basis. He was already involved in debt for not getting expecting cost from rice firming this year. In spite of that he ploughed 8 'bighas' of land for potato with a great hope to wipe-out the prior debts. But the infectious disease of potato make him frustrated and he took his life. Now what will happen to his wife, son and daughter?" 

'Dhasa' disease is becoming districts' burning problem day by day. Potato cultivators are in dire situation due to their huge investments (made usually by taking loan) on cultivating the crop. Endangered peasants hopelessly count their future, but district agricultural department is still in deep sleep. They are yet to take any action regarding this matter. Last week District Chief Agricultural Officer Aswani Kumar Bari told "only some pockets of Kalna block is affected with this disease. I have no such information about spreading this disease infectiously". 

After getting information regarding the farmers' death from bardhaman.com this afternoon, DM Subrata Gupta immediately contacted with Pradip Kumar Agarwal, the Joint BDO of Memari and ordered him to enquire the matter. In evening Dr. Gupta told bardhaman.com, "Memari joint BDO sent his initial reports to me. I ordered him for a quick detail enquiry. We do not rule out the farmers suicide due to 'dhasa' disease of potato. I'll personally look after the matter".