Farmer's Death in West Midnapore Sparks Political Row Over Crashing Potato Prices

The death of a farmer in West Midnapore, who was in dire straits due to crashing potato prices, has sparked a political row. The family claims that the farmer committed suicide by consuming poison after suffering huge losses in potato cultivation and unable to bear the pressure of debt. According to police, the deceased has been identified as Rakhal Adi, a resident of Rangamati village in Chandrakona block number one of West Midnapore district. According to family sources, Rakhal had cultivated potatoes on about four bighas of land this year. The cultivation cost was about one lakh forty thousand rupees. He had reportedly cultivated potatoes with a loan on his wife's jewellery. Rakhal's own land is only ten kathas. His family, including his mother, wife and two children. Family sources claim that the price of potatoes started falling in the market as soon as he started picking potatoes from the field. Currently, the price of potatoes is hovering around 320 rupees per quintal. The farmers allege that the situation did not raise even a fraction of the cost of production.