Tenant farmers seek Cultivator Cards as Telangana assesses drought, El Nino impact

Tenant farmers across Telangana are worried about crop losses this season and the support they may receive from the State government if drought conditions are declared. They fear that any relief announced by the government could benefit landowners, leaving tenant farmers deprived of assistance.

In a preliminary assessment, officials have identified 215 mandals facing drought conditions. Against this backdrop, tenant farmers are concerned that they may be excluded from relief measures as the government is yet to



initiate steps to identify them.

Before the 2023 Assembly elections, the Congress party had made several promises to tenant farmers, including the issuance of identification cards and input subsidies for crop cultivation. 

However, nearly three years later, these promises remain unfulfilled. There are nearly 22 lakh tenant farmers in the State. The Telangana Tenant Farmers Recognition Sadhana Committee has been urging the government to recognise tenant farmers and issue Cultivator Cards.