Telangana farmers face fresh losses in Vanakalam after waiting months for compensation

Hyderabad: Farmers who are yet to receive compensation for crop losses suffered during the March-April, August-September and October spells of heavy rain last year are now facing fresh losses this Vanakalam season, adding to their mounting financial distress.

The State government had accorded administrative sanction for Rs 122 crore towards input subsidy to farmers in 27 districts for damage to agricultural and horticultural crops caused by heavy rain between October 28 and 31.

Earlier, it had sanctioned Rs 28 crore in May 2025 towards input subsidy for crops damaged by heavy rain between April 16 and 27. Another Rs 8 crore was sanctioned for crop losses caused by heavy rain between March 21 and 25.

Heavy rain during the August-September period had also damaged crops, following which the government assured compensation to farmers. Administrative sanction was accorded for Rs 109 crore.

In all, the government had assured around Rs 275 crore in compensation for crop losses caused by heavy rain last year. However, more than a year later, the funds are yet to reach farmers, leaving them without the promised support to recover from their losses, Rythu Swarajya Vedika convenor B Kondal Reddy said.

With government assistance still elusive, farmers in several areas are now facing fresh crop losses this season.

Farmers in parts of the erstwhile Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts have suffered losses due to withered crops. Several farmers in different areas, including Jogulamba Gadwal, had even resorted to burning their paddy crops.

Similarly, farmers in the erstwhile Khammam district and neighbouring areas such as Aswaraopeta, Sattupally and Mulkampally are learnt to have lost standing paddy, cotton and chilli crops. In several places, harvested stocks were also drenched in rain.

Against this backdrop, farmers are apprehensive about receiving compensation for the losses suffered during the current Vanakalam season, given the government’s failure to release the assistance promised for previous crop losses.