Andhra Pradesh’s agriculture sector is facing one of its most severe crises in recent years. In just 21 months under the Chandrababu Naidu government, nearly 3,000 farmers have died by suicide, according to available reports and official data discussed in review meetings. These deaths are not isolated tragedies but indicators of a deeper collapse in agricultural support systems.

Farmers across the state say despair has replaced hope, as falling crop prices, mounting debts and lack of government support leave them with few options. With no remunerative prices for crops, delayed or denied investment assistance, cancellation of crop insurance and weakening of farmer support systems, agriculture has become unsustainable for thousands of families.

Government neglect driving Farmers to despair

Farmers in Andhra Pradesh are under immense financial pressure. Rising cultivation costs, unpredictable weather, and collapsing crop prices have pushed many into debt traps. Under normal circumstances, government policies such as investment support, crop insurance, price stabilization and disaster relief are meant to protect farmers. However, many of these safety mechanisms have weakened or disappeared. As a result, farmers who once worked their land with hope now face unbearable economic and psychological pressure. Reports of farmer suicides have become increasingly common across the state. Police reports presented in official review meetings have also acknowledged the severity of the situation. Entire families that once depended on agriculture are now being pushed into grief and financial collapse.

Investment assistance promise not fulfilled

Before the elections, Chandrababu Naidu promised Rs. 20,000 annual investment assistance per farmer, apart from the PM-Kisan scheme.

However, the implementation has fallen far short of those promises.

Key issues include:

• The first year’s payment was completely skipped
• In the second year, only Rs. 14,000 was paid
• The scheme now covers only 46.85 lakh farmers
• Around 7 lakh farmers have been excluded
• Tenant farmers have received no investment support

Farmers say this failure has pushed many into debt, forcing them to borrow heavily for cultivation. Additionally, the government failed to pay Rs. 834 crore in crop insurance premiums in June 2024, leading to the removal of free crop insurance and causing farmers to lose nearly Rs. 3,500 crore in compensation benefits.

No relief even after Cyclone damage

Natural disasters have further worsened the crisis. When Cyclone Michaung struck in October last year, many farmers suffered severe crop losses. Yet compensation has not reached several affected farmers even months later. The government allocated only Rs. 300 crore under the Price Stabilization Fund, which many experts consider insufficient for a state with such a large agricultural economy.

Farmers forced to sell crops below MSP

Another major issue is the absence of remunerative prices for crops. Farmers across Andhra Pradesh are suffering losses in multiple crops including:

• Paddy
• Maize
• Banana
• Coconut
• Pulses
• Chilli
• Tomato
• Cotton

Some examples highlight the crisis:

• Chickpea MSP: Rs. 5,875
  • Market price received: below Rs. 5,000
• Maize MSP: Rs. 2,400
  • Market price received: Rs. 1,400–Rs. 1,500
• Banana: around Rs. 5,000 per tonne
• Tomatoes: sometimes sold at Rs. 2 per kilogram

Farmers reportedly lost Rs. 3,500 crore in maize cultivation alone due to low prices.

Support systems built earlier now collapsing

During the previous YSRCP government led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, agriculture was supported through multiple welfare measures based on the belief that “the state prospers only when farmers prosper.” Major initiatives included:

• Rs. 13,500 annual investment support under YSR Rythu Bharosa
• 53.58 lakh farmers benefited
• Establishment of Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) for seeds, fertilizers and guidance
• Free crop insurance
• Timely input subsidies
• Farm machinery services
• Zero-interest crop loans
• Government procurement of paddy

Between 2019 and 2024, the government spent Rs. 1,84,567 crore on the agriculture sector. Today, many farmers say the system that supported them earlier has weakened significantly.

Key issues raised include:

• Annadata Sukhibhava payments incomplete
• Crop insurance discontinued
• e-crop registration irregularities
• RBKs weakened
• Fertilizer shortages
• Zero-interest loans discontinued
• Weak price stabilization measures
• Procurement failures
• Lack of disaster relief support

With institutional support declining, many farmers are slipping deeper into debt.

Suicide leaves entire families in darkness

A farmer’s suicide affects far more than a single life. It leaves:

• A wife widowed
• Children without a father
• Families plunged into financial and emotional crisis

The economic burden and social trauma often affect entire villages. Governments have a moral responsibility to support such families, yet many affected households say they continue to struggle without adequate help.

Farmers called Nation’s backbone

Farmers are widely described as the backbone of the nation.However, experts warn that if agriculture continues to weaken, the social and economic consequences could be severe.

Agricultural experts emphasize the need for:

• timely implementation of welfare schemes
• assured remunerative prices
• crop insurance protection
• investment assistance
• disaster relief support

Without these measures, the agriculture sector may continue to face instability.

Farmers seek hope and dignity

Across rural Andhra Pradesh, farmers hope their voices will be heard. They want agriculture to once again become a dignified livelihood where hard work in the fields results in prosperity rather than despair. Farmers say they want a future where fields bring smiles, not tragedies.

Promises made to Farmers before 2024 elections

Before the 2024 elections, Chandrababu Naidu promised several measures for farmers:

• Rs. 20,000 annual investment assistance
• 9 hours of quality free electricity
• Subsidized solar pump sets with power purchase option
• Subsidies for farm machinery
• Price Stabilization Fund
• Identity cards and welfare benefits for tenant farmers
• Corporation for agricultural labourers
• Organic farming initiatives in each parliamentary constituency
• Modern warehouses and cold storage units
• Strong enforcement of APMC Act to curb middlemen exploitation
• 90% subsidy for drip irrigation
• Promotion of sericulture to create rural employment

However, critics say many of these promises have yet to be implemented effectively.

Farmer suicides after Coalition govt came to power

Since June 4, 2024, when the coalition government assumed power, farmer suicides have increased. By December 2024, the government itself acknowledged that 97 farmers had died by suicide. Later police reports presented in official review meetings suggested thousands of suicides across the state. The documented cases span districts including:

• Guntur
• Kurnool
• Anantapur
• Palnadu
• Prakasam
• Nandyal
• Chittoor
• Srikakulam

Many deaths were reportedly linked to:

• heavy debts
• crop losses
• lack of MSP
• absence of compensation
• declining institutional support

Earlier record of Chandrababu Naidu on agriculture

During an earlier tenure, Chandrababu Naidu faced criticism after stating that “agriculture is a burden.” In the 2014 elections, he promised a Rs. 86,000 crore farm loan waiver, but only around Rs. 15,000 crore was implemented, leaving many farmers trapped in debt.

Farmers saw improvement during YS Jagan Government

During the tenure of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, several welfare initiatives were introduced:

• Rs. 13,500 investment support annually
• free crop insurance
• input subsidies
• reduced loan defaults
• multiple welfare schemes for farmers

These measures reportedly helped stabilize agriculture and reduce farmer distress

Compensation for Families of Suicide Victims

The YSRCP government also increased compensation for farmer suicide victims. Key measures included:

• compensation increased from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh
• money transferred directly to family bank accounts
• both landowners and tenant farmers eligible

Between 2019 and April 2024:

• 1,770 farmer families received compensation
• total compensation paid: Rs. 114.42 crore

The government also reviewed previously rejected cases from earlier administrations and extended compensation to those families as well.