Tenant Farmers in Dire Straits in Telangana, Survey Finds

Releasing the ‘Telangana Tenant Farmers Survey Report 2026’ on Tuesday, the organization said tenant farmers were facing “skyrocketing” lease rates, unable to secure loans from banks, were getting left out of crucial support systems such as subsidized fertilizer supply, and even when they overcome all challenges, still face an uphill task when it comes to selling their produce.

The survey, covering 57 villages in 47 mandals spread over 22 districts, with 1,816 tenant farmers interviewed, said a whopping 92.5 per cent of tenant farmers comprised BCs, SCs, STs, Muslims, with a smaller percentage accounted for by those from OC category. The event was attended by chairman of the Telangana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission M. Kodanda Reddy, Justice B Sudershan Reddy, Prof. B Haragopal, Justice Chandrakumar, and Akunuri Murali, former chairman of state Education Commission, among others.

One of the tenant farmers, Sadanandam from Jammikumta mandal of Karimnagar district, told the gathering that as a tenant farmer, his experiences reflect that of all his counterparts. “One of the biggest problems among many, is that the landlords into whose accounts the amount for the sold crops is deposited suddenly see those sums and demand more than the agreed-to lease amounts. And then there are the OTPs for every transaction that go to the phone of the landowner, and it is very very difficult to get the numbers. Tenant farmers must be issued identity cards which will be of great help in direct transactions, be it for fertiliser, or for selling crops,” he said.

Ramakant, a farmer from Talamadugu village from a mandal of the same name in Adilabad district, said because “we do not get loans from banks, we have to borrow money from private money lenders who are charging up to 20 per cent interest for a single crop season. The government must also ensure we get loans from banks.”

Kiran Kumar Vissa from RSV said contrary to popular belief, lease rates increased after the introduction of Rythu Bandhu by the previous government. “During our survey tenant farmers said things were coming to such a pass that they are willing to take part in direct action such as protests. Though the Land Licensed Cultivators Act passed by the Congress government in 2011 in unified Andhra Pradesh is in force, it is not being implemented. The Act has several provisions that protect tenant farmers interests,” he said.

Infograph

Tenant farmers on a treadmill

Surging lease costs: Average of Rs 14,936 per acre, with a peak of Rs. 53,000 per acre

Fertiliser woes: App-based system needing OTP blocking access to subsidised urea. Only 412 out of 1,816 tenants got urea at Rs. 260 per bag. Rest had to pay up to Rs. 500 per bag in the open market.

Procurement barriers: State procurement needs landowner pattas and Aadhaar linkage, or OTP-based owner approval, making it difficult for tenants to sell to government procurement agencies.

Crop losses: 85.2% of those surveyed faced floods, heavy rains, and hailstorms over the last 3 years. Only 0.7% (11 out of 1,548 affected) received disaster relief in their own accounts. In 45 cases, landowners received disaster compensation but did not give it to tenants.

Efforts on to solve tenant farmers' problems: Kodanda Reddy

Hyderabad: The Telangana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Commission has assured that it would work with the government to provide relief to tenant farmers by finding ways to remove several challenges they face, be it getting agriculture loans from banks, or selling their produce.

Commission chairman M. Kodanda Reddy on Tuesday said the number of tenant farmers in the state was rising with each year, and not attending to their issues might even impact overall agriculture in the state.

Kodanda Reddy was speaking at an event organised by the Rythu Swarajya Vedika (RSV), which on Tuesday, released its ‘Telangana Tenant Farmers Survey Report 2026’. He said he would meet with the RSV representatives, tenant farmers and others soon to draw up a priority list of issues that would address the problems being faced by tenant farmers.

Expressing confidence that the government will favourably consider the solutions that the commission and others can provide, Kodanda Reddy said, “Every problem may not be solved in one go, but Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is the son of a farmer, he understands what farmers face and responds to them.”

Acknowledging that getting farm loans from banks was one of the greatest challenges faced by tenant farmers, Kodanda Reddy said banks were reluctant to issue loans to them despite clear instructions from the government to the State Level Bankers’ Committee to do so.

“We also suggested that the banks agree to accept guarantees from fellow tenant farmers when giving loans. The commission has already submitted a report to the Chief Secretary on strict implementation of the Telangana Money Lenders Act to ensure tenant farmers are not fleeced by private money lenders. We will talk to the government the problems tenant farmers face, including how to find ways to ensure government aid to farmers also reaches tenant farmers,” he said.

Justice Reddy warns against misuse of farmhouses

Hyderabad: Justice B. Sudershan Reddy on Tuesday called for a crackdown on farmhouses in the state, declaring that such places have become “centres for anti-social activities.”

Addressing a meeting where the Rythu Swarajya Vedika (RSV) released its ‘Telangana Tenant Farmers Survey Report 2026’, Justice Reddy said, “Farmhouses are neither farms, nor houses. These are actually making a mockery of agriculture.” Justice Reddy, whose nomination as the opposition candidate for the last Vice-President of India elections was championed by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, also said the government should relook at why farmhouse owners should not be excluded from state provided aid to farmers, as no agriculture takes place in such compounds.

Justice Reddy also said one of the worst cuts on tenant farmers was imposed by the previous BRS government, which removed Column 16 in the ‘Pahani’ land records, in which the name of the actual cultivator of farm land used to be listed. This must be revived, he said, adding that Revanth Reddy when he was the TPCC president, had raised several of the issues faced by tenant farmers and promised to address them.

He called on the Telangana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission to organise a meeting with the Chief Minister and the Agriculture Minister, along with RSV representatives, where the findings of the report on tenant farmers can be discussed.