Nashik: Losses in the grape market led a vineyard owner to allegedly commit suicide late on Saturday in Khedgaon village of Dindori tehsil, after he could not pay-off loans worth Rs 10 lakh. Manik Ashok Randive (36) hung himself to a tree near his vineyard. His body was found by villagers later, which the police has sent for autopsy to Vani Government Hospital and is investigating further.
Despite good exports, the grape market has dropped. The international rates are low and have in turn affected thousands of vineyard owners in Nashik district. Sources said that Manik had a 3.5-acre vineyard in Khedgaon village. Natural causes, including hailstorms and severe cold, had spoilt his crop in the last three years in a row.
During this season, he was able to salvage about 60 per cent of grapes. However, in March, the grape market fell and Manik decided to sell off the produce himself but got no rates.
Sources stated that, to make ends meet, he was also working as a labourer in another vineyard. Vineyard owner Mahesh Thube said that Manik had sold off his grapes at Rs 12 per kg.
Sources further said that Manik’s parents had taken a loan of Rs 5.5 lakh from UCO bank and Rs 2,40,000 from Khedgaon cooperative credit society and a tractor from a private finance institution. The loans were taken about five years back and the amount had increased due to stalled instalments and interest.
Last month, in separate incidents, two farmers committed suicide in Malegaon tehsil of Nashik. The first deceased Mahadu Karbhari Pawar (55) of Saundane village consumed poison and had debts of Rs 1,50,000 while the second deceased, Jagan Vithal Ahire (50) of Dongargaon hung himself and had debts of approximate Rs 2,50,000.
