Sambalpur: Serious financial crisis resulting in mental depression is the main reason behind farmer suicides in the state, according to a psychiatrist of the VSS medical university, Dr Birendra Narayan Nayak.

"Proper counselling, public awareness and mental strength should be provided to the farmers to check the suicidal deaths," he told The Telegraph on Thursday.

Dr Nayak said he would start counselling the farmers as well as educate the sarpanchs, ward members and anganwadi workers in the medical college and other areas, so that the pest-affected victims would get mental support at the ground level.

At least six farmers have committed suicide during the past fortnight in Bargarh district.

Veteran farmer leader and convenor of the Western Odisha Krushak Co-ordination Committee Lingaraj said that during 2014-15, more than 200 farmers, including 40 from Bargarh district, had committed suicide following crop loss because of drought in the state.

"Farmers have become helpless as farming is not a profiteering business nowadays. Income is not sufficient in view of the rising expenditure. The farmers have taken huge loan from various agencies but don't know how to repay the loan while maintaining their family. Without getting any way out from the plight, they are being forced to take the extreme step," he said.

The farmer leader alleged that earlier the compensation provided by the government was far from their investment. More over "it takes time and was a cumbersome procedure", he said.

In another development, the Jai Kisan movement, a newly formed voluntary organisation in Bargarh, has taken steps to provide financial help to families of those farmers, who committed suicide, by collecting funds from people.

Bargarh, known as the rice bowl of the state, has been affected by pest, prompting many farmers to commit suicide.

Farmer Indra Bariha of Manamunda village was the first one to commit suicide on October 26, followed by Jagdish Budhek of Jalgarh village in Paikmal block, who died the next day.

On October 30, Akhaya Dharai of Tora village committed suicide, and the next day, Brundaban Sahu of Kalapani village consumed pesticide.

On November 4, P. Naveen Kumar of Nuakhaairpali died in Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research at Burla, while the next day, Bhakta charan Bhoi of Pandikipali in Melchamunda block consumed pesticide and killed himself.