11 Amaravati farmers kill self in two years over crop failure: RTI

Hyderabad: Mounting debts forced 11 farmers in Andhra Pradesh’s capital region of Amaravati to commit suicide over the past two years, a fresh RTI has revealed, underscoring how the ertswhile TDP government failed to address the problems of farmers adequately in its own backyard.
The deaths of Dalit tenant farmers occurred in the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) jurisdiction of three tehsils and was kept under wraps by the TDP regime, the RTI revealed, adding that farmers were unable to make up for losses incurred in chilli and cotton cultivation.
A few more deaths have been reported in the core capital area, where parcels of land were not given for land pooling by farmers, records show.
The RTI reply from Thulluru sub-divisional officer revealed that five farmers ended their lives in Amaravati mandal, three in Thulluru mandal and three in Pedakurapadu mandal. Of 11 cases, nine farmers consumed pesticide, while two committed suicide by hanging.
“The suicide figures are pertaining to 2018 and 2019, while the government was boasting about world-class capital coming up in the area. Six of the 11 farmers are Dalits belonging to Mala and Madiga communities. Agrarian distress was right in the CRDA region, but no help was offered,” B Kondal Reddy of Rythu Swarajya Vedika told TOI.