HYDERABAD: On March 22, when the first instalment of Rythu Bharosa is released across Telangana, names of 57 farmers from Adilabad will be missing from the list of beneficiaries. The state govt issued a ‘stop payment’ order after the farmers were caught cultivating ganja on agricultural land for which they were receiving assistance under the scheme.Adilabad SP Akhil Mahajan told TOI that police officers have written to the govt over the past six months seeking cancellation of Rythu Bharosa benefits for 90 farmers who were growing ganja alongside pulses or other crops.The scheme provides Rs 12,000 per acre annually as financial assistance to farmers to meet their initial investment needs ahead of crop sowing season. For the ongoing rabi season, the govt announced that around Rs 9,000 crore will be credited to the accounts of nearly 70 lakh farmers in a phased manner. Earlier, for the kharif season, the Rythu Bharosa assistance was disbursed in June 2025.Acting on tip-offs, Adilabad police recovered more than 3,500 ganja plants across the district over the past six months. “Another 30 cancellation requests were sent about two weeks ago. Payments to those farmers are also expected to be stopped soon,” said Mahajan.Police officials said these farmers typically own four to five acres of land and use other crops as cover while cultivating ganja in between. The cultivation was found on patta land, land recorded under the Record of Rights (ROR), land recognised under the Recognition of Forest Rights (ROFR), and even on leased land.“Mostly, urad dal, jowar and cotton crops are grown as cover, as they grow tall and can conceal the weed plants,” Mahajan said, adding that ganja is cultivated for sale within the district and outside to earn easy money.Police officials also said that they feared ganja cultivation was on the rise in the district. Cases have been registered against the offenders under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985 and they have been sent to judicial custody.“However, the offenders often resume cultivation after coming out of jail. That’s why we felt cancellation of Rythu Bharosa benefits would act as a stronger deterrent,” said the 2017-batch IPS officer.
