Ajay Rout, an Indigenous farmer from Odisha, emphasizes the dire choice he faces: "The income from the business, huge for him, overcomes the fear of being involved in it... I hardly earn 30,000 rupees [$357] a year by growing vegetables and sweetcorn whereas I can easily make 500,000 rupees [$5,962] in just five to six months in cannabis cultivation." His experience showcases the financial desperation leading farmers into illegal activities.
The article illustrates a broader narrative: "Rout, who has been in this business for the past eight years, served three months in prison in 2017 and has been out on bail ever since." This reflects the ongoing risks faced by farmers like Rout who cultivate banned crops despite the legal consequences.
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