Berhampur: A farmer killed himself in the state on Friday allegedly because of crop loss due to pest attack.

Alaya Jena of Erendra village in Patapur police limits allegedly killed himself after failing to address the pest problem.

"Jena was worried by the attack by the brown plant hopper pest in his field. He had administered some pesticide five days ago, but in vain. On Friday when his wife was preparing dinner, he consumed pesticide," said his younger brother, Pintu.

Jena was shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital at night, where he died.

BNPur police station inspector-in-charge Ajay Kumar Mishra said: "We have registered an unnatural death case after Pintu Jena lodged a complaint."

Ganjam collector Prem Chandra Chowdhary said: "I have asked the tehsildar and the agriculture officer of the area concerned to visit the spot and submit a joint report."

Deputy director of agriculture Manoj Kumar Behera said paddy crops in 12 out of 22 blocks in the district were reeling from crop loss due to brown plant hopper pest attacks.

Earlier on Friday, another two farmers, K. Bakeya Reddy and D. Dhanalaxmi of Rampa village in Chikiti block in the district, set fire to their crops.

A six-member team of agriculture scientists, led by Bhagaban Patra of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, visited affected areas in six blocks of the district. The team collected samples of pesticides used by the farmers. It also recorded the statements of farmers about pest control, he said.

Another team of the Central Rice Research Institute from Cuttack will visit the affected areas on Monday, said Behera.