Tenant farmers seek legal recognition and welfare support in Telangana

Farmers’ organisations have alleged that tenant farmers in Telangana continue to face exclusion from subsidies, institutional credit, disaster relief and MSP procurement. A survey covering 1,816 tenant farmers highlighted growing distress, while officials assured discussions on welfare measures and policy reforms.

Hyderabad: Farmers’ welfare organisations have criticised the State government for what they described as its indifference towards the farming community, particularly amid concerns over rising farmer suicides in Telangana.

According to Rythu Swarajya Vedika, 248 farmers died by suicide in 2024 and the number rose to 285 in 2025. The organisation said 87 farmer suicides have already been reported this year.

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Rythu Swarajya Vedika leader Kanneganti Ravi said it was condemnable that the government continued to maintain that no farmer suicides had taken place in the State, citing National Crime Records Bureau data.

He said tenant farmers were facing greater hardships than land-owning farmers and many were being pushed to extreme steps due to mounting challenges.

To document the problems faced by tenant farmers, the Tenant Farmers Recognition Struggle Committee, along with several farmers’ organisations, conducted a survey between May 1 and May 28. The survey covered 1,816 tenant farmers across 57 villages in 22 districts. The findings were released in the city on Tuesday.

The report stated that tenant farmers remain excluded from key government support systems such as fertiliser subsidies, crop procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), disaster relief and institutional credit.

It pointed out that an app-based system introduced during the recent Yasangi season required a one-time password from landowners, making it difficult for tenant farmers to access subsidised fertilisers.

Of the 1,816 farmers surveyed, only 412 were able to purchase subsidised urea at Rs 260 per bag. The remaining farmers bought urea in the open market for as much as Rs 500 per bag.

The committee warned that the situation could worsen during the Vanakalam 2026 season when cultivation activity and fertiliser demand are expected to increase.

The report also noted that government procurement platforms require pattadar details, Aadhaar linkage and landowner approval through OTP authentication. As a result, many tenant farmers face difficulties in selling their produce through government procurement channels.

Nearly 85 per cent of the surveyed tenant farmers reported suffering crop losses due to floods, heavy rains or hailstorms over the past three years. However, only 11 of the 1,548 affected farmers received disaster relief compensation.

Crop damage was assessed for 380 farmers, but only 116 cases were recorded in the names of tenant farmers. In 45 instances, compensation was paid to landowners and not to the tenants who cultivated the land.

The report further highlighted that tenant farmers continue to face difficulties in obtaining crop loans from banks. While landowners can access loans at zero per cent interest, tenant farmers are often forced to rely on private lenders charging interest rates ranging from 24 per cent to 36 per cent.

V Rukmini Rao, General Secretary of Gramya Resource Centre for Women, recalled that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had expressed support for tenant farmers while serving as TPCC president. She said he had promised to implement the Land Licensed Cultivators Act, but no steps had been taken after the Congress came to power.

Rukmini Rao also highlighted the growing role of women in cultivation. She said many women farmers work on par with men, but their contribution remains largely unrecognised. To reduce cultivation costs, some families are involving children in farm work, which she said contributes to school dropouts.

In Zaheerabad, a survey conducted by the Deccan Development Society in two villages found that many women, particularly single women and landless women, were cultivating land as tenant farmers.

Kodanda Reddy assures action

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission Chairman M Kodanda Reddy acknowledged some of the concerns raised by tenant farmers.

He said banks had been directed during SLBC meetings to extend loans to tenant farmers, but many institutions had expressed concerns over loan recovery.

Kodanda Reddy said a meeting would soon be held with representatives of tenant farmers and farmers’ organisations to discuss issues related to loans, subsidies and other welfare measures.

Key demands of tenant farmers

• Legal recognition of tenant farmers.
• Access to subsidised fertilisers, disaster compensation and MSP procurement, irrespective of Rythu Bharosa benefits received by landowners.
• Issuance of Loans and Other Benefits Eligibility Cards (LEC) at the beginning of every agricultural season.
• A uniform system for all schemes and crops, beginning with e-crop booking, with benefits linked directly to the tenant farmer’s bank account through the LEC.
• Legislative changes only after consultations with tenant farmers’ organisations.
• Finalisation of legal reforms before the upcoming Monsoon session of the Assembly to enable recognition of tenant farmers during this year.
• Avoidance of mandatory landowner approvals or signatures that could restrict tenant recognition.