Telangana’s urea crisis continues to fuel farmer protests, adds to political heat

A severe urea shortage has left Telangana farmers in distress, forcing long queues, black-market purchases and protests across districts. In Mahabubabad, a paralysed farmer collapsed in line, highlighting the crisis that has triggered political tensions and accusations against the State government

Hyderabad: The urea shortage in Telangana has sparked sheer desperation among farmers, leading to long queues, black-market sales and mounting political tensions across districts.

In Burkitanda village of Mahabubabad district, a paralysed farmer, Ajmeera Lakka, collapsed while waiting in line for urea. He fell on the staircase of a fertiliser outlet and sustained a serious head injury. Despite waiting for hours with his wife Vijaya, he failed to secure even a single bag for the ongoing kharif season. He was rushed to a government hospital, but officials’ assurances brought little comfort to his family.

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The crisis persists despite the Centre claiming to have sanctioned 50,000 tonnes of urea as part of the backlog. On the ground, farmers in Mahabubabad, Warangal, Khammam and Mahabubnagar districts continue to struggle. Many have turned to black-market purchases at inflated prices, with allegations of hoarding by private dealers.

Tenant farmers and tribals without Aadhaar cards or passbooks are among the worst affected. The shortage has triggered unrest, with farmers staging road blockades and dharnas in Gadwal, Sircilla and Warangal. In Nellikudur mandal of Mahabubabad, farmers queued up from 5 am, leaving slippers to mark their spots, only to face allegations of negligence from cooperative staff.

In Warangal’s Medipally, a scuffle during distribution left a farmer injured. Krishnaiah, from Chevella in Rangareddy district, lamented: “We spend more time in line for fertiliser than working in our fields.” At Tippaparthi and Tripuraram Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies in Nalgonda district, farmers said the crisis was unprecedented in a decade.

Former Nakrekal MLA Chirumarti Lingaiah, who visited Tatikal village Single Window office, interacted with farmers enduring long waits under the sun. Women stood in queues with infants, clutching Aadhaar cards and slippers to reserve their turn.

Speaking to the media, he lashed out at the Congress government. “The people of Telangana have been deceived by false promises. Revanth Reddy’s administration is incompetent, failing to meet public needs, leaving all sections of society to suffer,” he said.