Rural Discontent Grows Against Congress Government in South Telangana Over Farm Issues

Hyderabad, August 3: Signs of growing dissatisfaction with the Congress government are emerging among farmers in rural South Telangana, particularly over agriculture-related policies. A public opinion survey conducted by our reporting team across several villages that backed the Congress in the last Assembly elections found that while welfare schemes have received a largely positive response, many farmers are unhappy with the government's handling of key agricultural issues.

One of the biggest concerns raised by farmers is the urea booking app introduced for fertilizer distribution. They said the system requires users to submit an OTP within just three minutes of booking. If the deadline is missed, farmers reportedly have to wait nearly 20 days before they can apply again, causing significant hardship during the cultivation season. Although farmers acknowledged that urea is available at the subsidized price of ₹269, they argued that the booking process has made access to the fertilizer unnecessarily difficult.

Tenant farmers said they have been hit the hardest by the new system. They recalled that in the past, urea was readily available through local dealers, who would often supply it on credit when needed. Farmers suggested that fertilizer allocation should instead be linked to the area under cultivation, saying such a system would be more practical and farmer-friendly. They urged the government to review and simplify the current app-based distribution process.

 Apart from fertilizer availability, farmers also expressed concern over frequent disruptions in agricultural power supply over the past two months. They alleged that irregular electricity during the peak cultivation season has affected irrigation and crop management, adding to their difficulties. Many said there is a growing perception in rural areas that farmers' concerns are not receiving adequate attention from the government.

Several respondents who said they had voted for the Congress in the previous Assembly elections expressed disappointment over the government's performance on agricultural issues. Some farmers also stated that unless their concerns are addressed quickly, rural voter sentiment could shift ahead of future elections.