A recent study has highlighted a significant disparity in the distribution of government benefits in Telangana, with tenant farmers being largely excluded while landowners receive the majority of support. The research examined four key government support mechanisms: fertiliser subsidies, crop procurement at minimum support price (MSP), disaster relief, and institutional loans.
Key Findings of the Study
The study found that tenant farmers, who cultivate land owned by others, often fail to access these benefits due to lack of land ownership records. Fertiliser subsidies are typically tied to land titles, leaving tenants without direct support. Similarly, MSP procurement is generally conducted through landowner registrations, bypassing tenant cultivators.
Disaster Relief and Loans
Disaster relief funds are also channeled to landowners, even if tenants bear the brunt of crop losses. Institutional loans, which require collateral or land documents, remain out of reach for most tenant farmers, forcing them to rely on informal credit sources.
Impact on Agricultural Community
This exclusion exacerbates the vulnerability of tenant farmers, who constitute a significant portion of the state's agricultural workforce. Without access to subsidies and formal credit, they face higher input costs and reduced resilience against market and climate shocks.
Calls for Policy Reform
Experts recommend policy changes to recognize tenant farmers as legitimate beneficiaries, such as issuing identity cards or linking benefits to cultivation records rather than ownership. The study urges the Telangana government to address this gap to ensure inclusive agricultural development.
