A.P. Tenant Farmers’ Association questions government’s credibility ahead of State-wide outreach tour

The Andhra Pradesh Tenant Farmers’ Association has launched a sharp attack on the ruling coalition, questioning with what “face or moral right” the government plans to approach farmers during its upcoming State-wide outreach programme scheduled from November 24 to December 2.

In a   statement on Sunday (November 23), association State president E. Katamayya and general secretary P. Jamalayya accused the government of completely abandoning the promises it made to tenant farmers during the election campaign. They said coalition leaders had repeatedly assured that, once in power, they would repeal the earlier Tenant Farming Act, issue identity cards easily to tenant farmers, and extend the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme to all landless tenant cultivators. “Eighteen months have passed, and not a single promise has been implemented,” they alleged.

The leaders said tenant farming has become central to the State’s agriculture, with nearly 80% of land being cultivated by tenant farmers. Despite the Chief Minister’s announcement at the State-Level Bankers’ Committee meeting that banks would offer low-interest crop loans to tenants, three agricultural seasons have passed without any progress, they said.

They further charged the government with scrapping the free crop insurance scheme and burdening tenant farmers with high premiums, while failing to ensure minimum support price (MSP), forcing farmers to sell produce at distress prices. Calling the government’s attitude “negligent and insensitive,” the association leaders questioned why the promised new law for tenant farmers’ welfare had not materialised. They also criticised the distribution of Annadata Sukhibhava benefits to non-cultivating landowners while excluding actual tenant cultivators.

Demanding accountability, the leaders said the government should visit farmers’ homes not for publicity but to apologise for failing to deliver on its commitments.