Telangana farmers seek drought relief on lines of Maharashtra

Farmers in Adilabad’s border villages have urged the Telangana government to announce festival relief similar to Maharashtra’s Rs 5,000 assistance for farmers in drought-hit areas. The demand comes amid deficient rainfall, crop losses, mounting debts and growing agrarian distress.

Adilabad: Farmers from bordering villages in the district are urging the State government to announce immediate relief on the lines of Maharashtra, which has announced Rs 5,000 each for farmers in drought-hit districts in connection with the Diwali festival.

The neighbouring Maharashtra government declared 305 talukas or Assembly constituencies as drought-affected areas. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday announced the relief for farmers living in these segments to help them celebrate the festival of lights. The farmers would be able to manage their household expenses during the festival. The funds would be disbursed shortly, he told media persons.

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The gesture has kindled hopes among farmers in the bordering villages, who share cultural ties and family connections with Maharashtra. Farmers in Telangana have been reeling under a financial crisis, reportedly triggered by the El Nino pattern. They are now requesting the State government to announce a similar relief measure to tide over the crisis during Dasara, a major festival for people in Telangana.

“Farmers managed to raise cotton, paddy, soybean and pigeon pea crops by availing themselves of loans from banks and private moneylenders. The crops have been damaged by unseasonal rains, and whatever crops were left are now on the verge of withering due to scanty rainfall. The growers are distressed by crop failure. The announcement of immediate relief measures is the need of the hour,” Borranna, district convener of Rythu Swarajya Vedika, said.

The prevailing agrarian crisis has already claimed five lives of farmers. On Thursday, in two separate incidents, two farmers died by suicide as they were distressed over their inability to repay loans. Earlier, three farmers died by suicide after becoming distressed over crop failure and a decline in soybean yield between October 7 and 9.

The district recorded actual rainfall of 680 mm against the normal 1,040 mm from June 1 to October 15, reflecting a deficit of 35 per cent. Significantly, except for Thalamadugu mandal, all 20 mandals reported deficient rainfall, with deficits ranging between 24 per cent and 45 per cent, deepening the crisis.