Telangana government backtracks on farmers’ declaration forms

The Telangana government appears to have withdrawn instructions seeking self-declaration forms from farmers planning to cultivate paddy during Yasangi. However, farmers’ organisations say dealers in several districts continue demanding forms that reportedly absolve the government and dealers of responsibility for losses caused by water or power shortages.

Hyderabad: The State government appears to have backtracked on its move to seek self-declaration forms from farmers regarding crop cultivation in the next season. The move drew sharp criticism from farmers’ organisations even as farmers in a few areas continued to complain about the exercise.

Farmers’ organisations had complained that seed dealers were insisting on self-declaration forms at the government’s behest.

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Under the proposed declaration, farmers planning to cultivate paddy during the Yasangi season were being asked to accept that neither the government nor the dealers would be responsible for crop losses caused by water or power shortages.

Officials are learnt to have withdrawn the instructions to dealers after the move triggered a controversy.

Farmers decide which crops to cultivate based on soil conditions and other factors, including investment and expected yield. In these difficult times, the government should support farmers rather than impose restrictions, said Telangana Rythu Sangham convenor Srinivas.

“Initially, dealers were insisting on the submission of forms. When we checked with officials in Geesukonda mandal of Warangal, they said no such orders had been issued to dealers,” he said. Srinivas added that the government should clarify the issue.

However, dealers in several districts continue to insist on self-declaration forms. Farmers in some areas of the erstwhile Nizamabad district and other districts have confirmed that dealers are demanding the forms.