Sambalpur, Nov. 28: A 55-year-old farmer of Kulundi village of the district allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide after his crops failed.

Police said the body of Bhikari Mirig was found in his farm this morning.

Mirig had left his house last evening and did not return. His family members said the crop loss and loan burden had led him to take the extreme step.

More than 60 farmers in west Odisha, the region worst hit by the drought, have committed suicide so far.

Mirig had grown paddy over four acres. While he owned 2.5 acres, he had taken 1.5 acres on lease.

Mirig had taken a loan of Rs 38,000 from one Kulundi multi-purpose co-operative society. Besides, he had also borrowed Rs 20,000 from private moneylenders for the purpose of cultivation. Moreover, he had mortgaged his one-acre land for Rs 10,000, investing all the money in farming.

"This season, he was expecting a good harvest. But, the long dry spell ruined his crop. Following this, Mirig had gone under severe mental stress. That is what seems to have driven him to suicide," said his nephew Sudhansu Mirig.

Mirig's wife Dukhi said the farmer had gone out last evening without telling anything to anyone. "When he did not return, we came out searching for him but failed to locate him in the night. This morning, we found his body," said the 50-year-old widow.

Kuchinda sub-collector Deben Kumar Pradhan said: "The tehsildar has been asked to visit the village. The matter will be thoroughly inquired into and reasons behind the incident will be ascertained. Till then, all of us should wait patiently."

Sub-inspector of Jamankira police station Bideshi Sahu said Mirig's family members had informed him about the alleged suicide.

"Preliminary investigation revealed that Bhikari had committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance. We have also seized an empty bottle of pesticides from near the victim's body. The body is being sent for post-mortem," he said.

More than 100 farmers have allegedly committed suicide in the state in the past two months.

However, the collectors' reports have stated that none of these cases were because of loan burden.