Telangana farmer suicides drop 95% in 10 years
HYDERABAD:Â Telangana has seen a dramatic fall in farmer suicides over the past decade, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data.
In 2014, the year the state was formed, Telangana ranked second in the country in farmer suicides. By 2023, it had dropped to 14th place.
Sharp decline in farmer deaths
In 2023, 10,786 farmers died by suicide nationwide, of which Telangana accounted for just 56 cases — 0.51% of the total. This marks a 95.84% decline over 10 years.
In the state’s first five years (2014–2018), an average of 1,030 suicides a year was reported, totalling 5,151. In the following five years (2019–2023), the annual average fell to 313, with a total of 1,563 cases — a 69.65% drop. No other state reported such a steep decline.
Who were the victims?
Farmers with own land: 5,238
Tenant farmers: 939
Agricultural labourers: 537
Maharashtra continues to top the list with 4,151 cases in 2023, followed by Karnataka (2,423) and Andhra Pradesh (925). Together, these three states accounted for 69.5% of the total farmer suicides in the country.
South India’s share
South Indian states reported 4,177 farmer suicides in 2023, making up 38.72% of the national total. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and Puducherry together accounted for the bulk.
Suicide patterns in Telangana
Between 2014 and 2023, 10,580 people died by suicide in Telangana. Farmers and labourers made up a significant share: 4,690 farmers and 6,096 farm workers.
At the all-India level, the average suicide rate was 12.3 per lakh population. Telangana reported 27.7 per lakh, placing it fourth nationwide.
The NCRB report noted that family problems accounted for the majority (31.9%) of suicides nationally. In Telangana, 4,680 people ended their lives due to family issues. Daily wage earners were the largest group (27.5%), followed by housewives (14%).
