Sugarcane growers in the country are committing suicide due to "financial desperation", NCP supremo and former agriculture minister Sharad Pawar have pointed out in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying immediate steps must be taken to prevent any "mass-scale revolt" by farmers.

Highlighting in his letter a tremendous "unrest and depression" among small and marginal cane growers, the senior leader also suggested a slew of measures to provide relief to such farmers.

This letter comes in the backdrop of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre facing heat from various opposition parties over growing farm distress across the country. The agrarian crisis issue assumes even more significance after the BJP's recent defeat in assembly polls in three Hindi heartland states, and it is believed that the saffron party will make all efforts to claw back the support of millions of farmers ahead of the general elections.