Rise in farmer suicides sparks political debate in T'gana

The issue of farmer suicides has once again come to the forefront in Telangana politics. Former minister Harish Rao has accused the Congress government of failing to protect farmers, claiming that suicides have risen sharply since it came to power.

According to Rao, during the BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi) government’s tenure from 2014 to 2023, the number of suicides steadily declined. In 2014, the first year after Telangana was formed, 1,347 farmers died by suicide, placing the state second in the country. But by 2023, the number had dropped to just 56 - a fall of nearly 96% over nine years. Nationally, 10,786 farmers took their lives in 2023, and Telangana accounted for only 0.51% of those deaths.

BRS leaders credit schemes like farm loan waivers, Rythu Bandhu (income support), 24-hour free power supply, crop procurement, the Kaleshwaram irrigation project, and Mission Kakatiya for this decline. Congress, however, points out that more than 6,100 farmer suicides occurred between 2014 and 2022, arguing that BRS cannot ignore those numbers.

What’s happening under Congress?

Harish Rao alleges that the trend has reversed after Congress came to power in December 2023. He claims that 376 farmers died by suicide in 2024 alone, with the total reaching 447 in the government’s first 14 months - averaging nearly one suicide a day. In January 2025, he further alleged that the number had already risen to 402.

Congress leaders, however, dismiss these allegations, arguing that suicides were actually higher under BRS rule and that the party is committed to strengthening farmer welfare.

Data still unconfirmed

Official figures for 2024 and 2025 are not yet available from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), which typically releases reports at the end of each year or the following January. For now, the numbers cited by Harish Rao are based on media reports, not official confirmation.

Farmer unions say the causes behind suicides remain the same regardless of the ruling party - delayed implementation of welfare schemes, falling crop prices, mounting debts, and uncertain rainfall.

Political blame game Vs real issues

While BRS points to its decade-long record of reducing suicides, and Congress faces criticism for an alleged rise in cases, experts warn against politicizing the crisis. Whether under BRS or Congress, farmer suicides remain a tragic reality.

For real change, governments need to focus on timely loan support, fair crop prices, reliable irrigation, and proper implementation of welfare schemes. Only then Telangana’s slogan of making farmers “kings” turns into a reality.