Tenant farmers seek Cultivator Cards as Telangana assesses drought, El Nino impact

Tenant farmers in Telangana have expressed concern that any drought relief announced by the State government may benefit landowners while cultivators without formal recognition remain excluded. Farmers' organisations have urged the government to issue Cultivator Cards amid concerns over drought conditions and the impact of El Nino.

Hyderabad: Tenant farmers across Telangana are worried about crop losses this season and the support they may receive from the State government if drought conditions are declared. They fear that any relief announced by the government could benefit landowners, leaving tenant farmers deprived of assistance.

In a preliminary assessment, officials have identified 215 mandals facing drought conditions. Against this backdrop, tenant farmers are concerned that they may be excluded from relief measures as the government is yet to initiate steps to identify them.

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Before the 2023 Assembly elections, the Congress party had made several promises to tenant farmers, including the issuance of identification cards and input subsidies for crop cultivation. 

However, nearly three years later, these promises remain unfulfilled. There are nearly 22 lakh tenant farmers in the State. The Telangana Tenant Farmers Recognition Sadhana Committee has been urging the government to recognise tenant farmers and issue Cultivator Cards.

Responding to pressure from farmers’ organisations, the State government constituted a four-member Cabinet subcommittee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka in August. With the government expected to convene a crucial meeting of Ministers shortly to discuss the impact of El Nino, farmers’ organisations are demanding measures to benefit tenant farmers from the current Vanakalam season itself.

They want the registration of cultivators to be made an annual exercise to establish their eligibility for designated schemes and support measures.

The government should also clearly publicise that registration under the 2011 Act does not confer ownership rights or legal title over the land, said B Kondal of the Tenant Farmers Recognition Sadhana Committee. He said landowners should be reassured that issuing Cultivator Cards would not affect their ownership rights.

Tenant farmers are facing severe hardships and want Cultivator Cards issued this season so they can at least sell their produce, Kondal said. Already grappling with the challenges of an El Nino year, they should not be pushed further into debt, he stressed. Large numbers of Cultivator Cards were issued in Telangana before 2014 and during 2015-16. In the undivided Adilabad district, around 10,000 cards were issued between 2018 and 2019, he said.

According to Kondal, only a political decision is needed to implement the demand. If the government fails to act quickly, tenant farmers are ready to launch an agitation, he added.