Scrap rabi agreements, demand tenant farmers

Hyderabad: The number of tenant farmer agreements has sharply fallen in the current rabi season, with the government refusing to purchase paddy cultivated in the season. Even those who entered into agreements earlier this year are seeking cancellation of the clause for the rabi season.

As per Rythu Bandhu records, over 61 lakh farmers own lands in Telangana. A large chunk of these farmers lease the land to tenant farmers. Tenant farmers number about 12 lakh and do not receive any benefits from the government.

They enter into lease agreements with landowners to grow paddy. Normally, tenant farmers offer up to 15 bags of 70-kg paddy each or up to Rs 15,000 for every acre.

With the government asking farmers not to sow paddy, and saying that it will not purchase any paddy produced during the season, the demand for tenant farming has crashed.

Those who want to continue their lease are negotiating for lower returns, offering eight bags of paddy or up to Rs 8,000. With no demand, landowners are ready to lower the lease amounts.

"As per the data gathered by us, the tenant farmers have entered into 12 lakh lease agreements this year. With the state government's decision not to procure paddy in rabi, only four lakh tenant farmers are willing to continue their agreements and that too for lower returns," said T. Sagar, general secretary of Telangana Rythu Sangham.

He urged the government to come to rescue tenant farmers by offering them financial assistance and provide them bank loans to take up agriculture.