HYDERABAD: While the people of the city were startled at the news of a farmer's suicide in the state capital, statistics show that this fatality is not something new for the state. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there were as many as 5,360 farmer suicides in the year 2014. But, newly-created Telangana state holds the lion's share with the highest number of agrarian deaths, contributing as much as 31.1 per cent.

As photos of the Medak farmer, hanging from the tree went viral, agriculturists put the onus on the government for failing to recognise the agrarian epidemic. They say that the state has been faced with a drought-like situation for the last two years, which means that it rang the death-knell twice for farmers. "Following serious drought conditions in the last two years, the government should have identified the problem and come up with immediate remedial measure," GV Ramanjenayulu, executive director, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, told TOI.

He further said that farmers are posed with strenuous situation, ultimately forcing them to migrate to city in search of livelihood. "But merely coming to the capital city would not suffice as the urban agglomeration, does not provide for a steady means of employment. Which forces them to take the ultimate step," he added.

Pointing towards another reason for the heavy migration, experts said that the government has not provided extensive health and medical care in the districts. "With no basic or minimum infrastructure, farmer families find their way into the city," said K Mohan, a representative of the Rythu Swarajya Vedika.

The current state government which rode on its claim of loan waiver, has been highlighted as another reason for the crisis. "Last year, the government had released only 25 per cent of the loans, but it failed to do the same for second installment this year as banks were not willing to release it. This left the farmers hard-pressed for funds," he said.

Not just the facilities, experts have also come to find fault with the government's tabulation on the number of farmer suicides. They say that the criteria set by the government does not include the smaller farmers, it only accounts for farmers who have more than half their income coming from agricultural practices. "So those famers who have smaller land parcels are not considered farmers instead they are counted as farm-hands which is done to show a smaller number," said Ramajenayulu.