Bhubaneswar, Oct 19 (IANS) Bowing to the demands of angry farmers, the Orissa government Monday decided to form a joint committee to assess the crop loss in those areas where farmer suicides have been reported.

‘We have decided to form a committee of divisional officers of the agriculture and revenue department to asses the crop loss. After the assessment, the government would see what relief should be provided,’ state Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout told reporters Monday.

‘Let the clear picture come out. Let us assess the extent of crop loss. Let the farmers reap the crop, only then can we assess the crop loss. The government is ready to announce aid from the relief fund. The government can also provide some money from its own fund for immediate relief,’ Rout added.

Farmers staged a 12-hour road blockade on a national highway Monday to protest the farmer suicides in Jharsuguda district, bringing vehicular traffic to a halt.

The agitation coincided with yet another farmer suicide in Pipilkani village in Lakhanpur block of Jharsuguda district where the farmer suicides had been reported on Oct 4. But the fresh case of farmer suicide, officials said, is ‘yet to be confirmed’.

The opposition parties Monday visited the spot where the farmers were holding agitation to express solidarity with them and have demanded resignation of Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout.

‘We demand the resignation of the agriculture minister. The minister has hurt the feelings of the farmers by ruling out that the suicide reported on Oct 4 from Lakhanpur block was due to crop loss. He should resign owning moral responsibility,’ said Suresh Pujari, Orissa unit Bharatiya Janata Party president.

However, Damodar Rout has rejected the demand, saying the reason behind the farmer’s suicide was yet to be confirmed.