Scanty rainfall, financial crisis cause distress among Adilabad farmers

Scanty rainfall and financial challenges have deepened distress among farmers in Adilabad, with three deaths by suicide reported within 48 hours. The district recorded a 34 per cent rainfall deficit, while farmer organisations sought government support amid crop failures and mounting debts.

Adilabad: Scanty rainfall, reportedly linked to the persisting El Nino pattern, coupled with financial challenges has left farmers in the district distressed. The situation has turned grim, with consecutive farmer suicides becoming a cause for concern among farmer organisations.

The district recorded actual rainfall of 680 mm against the normal 1,023 mm from June 1 to October 8, registering a deficit of 34 per cent. Significantly, except for Bhoraj mandal, the remaining 20 mandals have been reeling under deficient rainfall ranging between 24 per cent and 45 per cent.

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Standing cotton crops are apparently on the verge of withering due to deficient rainfall. Three farmers allegedly died by suicide after becoming distressed over fears of crop failure due to scanty rainfall. The district witnessed the deaths of three farmers in just 48 hours, underscoring the deepening agrarian crisis.

Farmer organisations claimed that the district had already witnessed suicides of 19 farmers so far, against 31 such deaths in 2025 and 24 in 2024. They attributed the distress among farmers to crop failure caused by the El Nino pattern and financial challenges. They opined that the agrarian sector was facing a crisis.

The organisations expressed concern over the alarming rise in suicides among farmers in the district. They said farmers were struggling to raise crops due to delays in the release of Raithu Bharosa and challenges in purchasing fertilisers, besides adverse climatic conditions. They urged the government to take steps to support distressed farmers.

Commenting on the worrying trend, agriculture officials advised farmers to adopt crop diversification encouraged by the government. They suggested that farmers cultivate vegetable and horticulture crops to mitigate financial losses. They said incentives were being extended to farmers if they ventured into vegetable and horticulture crops.

Meanwhile, psychiatrists said farmers were resorting to extreme steps after undergoing stress from mounting debts. They advised farmers to share their feelings with family members and seek medical consultation when distressed. They observed that farmers could overcome depression by altering their thought processes.

Suicides by farmers
2026: 19
2025: 31
2024: 24

Recent instances

On Wednesday

Pasula Ashanna (50), a farmer from Thalamadugu, died allegedly by suicide on Wednesday. He had attempted to die by consuming pesticide on Monday and was immediately shifted to a hospital in Adilabad. He died while undergoing treatment after two days.

He cultivated cotton and pigeon pea crops on four acres and leased another four acres, availing loans of around Rs 8 lakh. He visited his agricultural fields and was reportedly disheartened by the crops, which were on the verge of withering due to scanty rainfall.

On Tuesday

Gurrala Prathapa Reddy (55), a tenant farmer, died after consuming pesticide, reportedly depressed over his inability to repay mounting debts at Thalamadugu on Monday. He died while being shifted to RIMS-Adilabad. He raised cotton and soybean crops by leasing 12 acres. He availed around Rs 8 lakh to cultivate the crops. He harvested the soybean crop recently, but did not get the yield he had expected.

On Monday

Kade Lasmanna (65) from Thalamadugu died by hanging at his agricultural field on Monday over an alleged financial crisis. He raised cotton on 2.20 acres by borrowing Rs 3 lakh and also availed a loan of Rs 3 lakh for his daughter’s wedding. He was reportedly upset after the crop failed, allegedly due to scanty rainfall.