Andhra Pradesh Tenant Farmers Association alleges neglect in State Budget

The Andhra Pradesh Tenant Farmers Association has strongly criticised the State Budget, alleging that tenant farmers, who form the backbone of the agriculture sector, have once again been ignored.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, State president A. Katamayya and general secretary P. Jamalayya said the coalition government had failed to fulfil its election promises and had betrayed tenant cultivators.

Expressing disappointment over the Budget proposals, they said Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav made no mention of specific welfare measures for tenant farmers.

While ₹6,650 crore was proposed under the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme for 46.86 lakh farmers, not a single rupee was earmarked for landless tenant farmers. They pointed out that nearly 80% of the cultivated land in the State is tilled by tenant farmers. Of the 35 lakh tenant cultivators, about 10 lakh are landless poor who require investment support, they said.

The association also criticised the omission of the proposed new legislation for tenant farmers from the Budget speech. Despite assurances of collateral-free crop loans in accordance with the RBI norms, tenant farmers continue to be deprived in practice, they alleged. They further expressed concern that no funds had been allocated to provide ex gratia to the families of tenant farmers who died by suicide over the past 20 months.

The leaders demanded an immediate review of the Budget, extension of all benefits to landless tenants, and enactment of a protective law during the current Assembly session. They warned that the association would intensify its protests if their demands were not addressed.