Bhubaneswar, Oct. 19: A farmer from Balangir district, who had allegedly consumed pesticide last week, died in Burla today.

Basudev Bhoi, 39, of Ghusramuda village under Budhipadar gram panchayat became the ninth farmer in the state to commit suicide since last week. Bhoi had allegedly consumed pesticide on Thursday.

Bhoi had been rushed to Luisingha community health centre in a critical condition. He was shifted to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Burla after his condition deteriorated.

According to Bhoi's family, he had taken a hefty loan for paddy cultivation earlier this year. Unfortunately, he sustained heavy crop loss due to scanty rainfall. As a result, he could not repay the loan and was under severe mental stress.

However, police said prima facie evidence suggested that a family feud was the reason behind Bhoi committing suicide.

"Investigation is on and the motive behind the suicide will be known later," said a police official at Burla police outpost.

Reports of farmers committing suicide are pouring in from various parts of the state after scanty rainfall in the state led to crop loss.

The state government has announced an assistance package for the drought-hit farmers in the state. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had also met farmers on Saturday.

Earlier, agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy had said that all cases of farmer suicides were being looked into.

On Saturday, Bir Majhi of Bhanrpur village in Kalahandi district hanged himself. Family sources said he was neck deep in debt.

On the same day, Sashi Oram ended his life by hanging himself at his home in Badabahal in Jharsuguda district.

Family sources said Oram had taken a loan from Kolabira Co-operative Society and was under mental stress due to crop loss.