Latest news with #AndhraPradeshTenantFarmers'Association
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Meet demands revocation of G.O. 120, protection of interests of people living around Kolleru Lake
: The local communities around Kolleru Lake have intensified their demand for the protection of their livelihoods and immediate rollback of government policies perceived as harmful to their existence. The leaders and activists are urging the government to reduce the contour level of the lake from the 5th to the 3rd contour, which they say is critical to safeguard both the environment and the livelihoods of thousands who depend on the lake. The Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham, Andhra Pradesh Tenant Farmers' Association, and the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Workers' Union jointly organised a round-table conference on Kolleru issues here on Thursday. The conference adopted a few resolutions, including, the demand for cancellation of Government Order (G.O.) 120,which residents describe as a noose around their necks and a sword hanging over their heads. The G.O. has severely restricted the local communities' traditional rights over land and water usage, the conference felt. (The Government of Andhra Pradesh issued G.O. Ms. No. 120 in 1999 to protect the lake from degradation and deterioration. It declared the lake as a bird sanctuary under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.) The speakers stressed the need to restore the 146 fisheries societies established in 1970s and return 14,800 acres of assigned land to rightful beneficiaries. They demanded that the Assembly pass a fresh resolution on Kolleru and submit it to the Centre and the Supreme Court. They also called for action against pollution from nearby factories and the implementation of rural employment guarantee schemes in the affected areas. The speakers criticised the government's failure to provide compensation, employment, and basic amenities like roads, drinking water, and electricity to Kolleru residents. They also called for the withdrawal of the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) status in the Kolleru region, stating that it is harmful to the local population and impractical in its current form. The conference was presided over by senior Rythu Sangham leader Y. Keshava Rao. CPI(M) State Secretary V. Srinivasa Rao, MLC Jayamangala Venkataramana, V. Krishnayya (president, Rythu Sangham), Dadala Subbarao and V. Venkateswarlu (AP Agricultural Workers' Union), B. Balaram and M. Haribabu (Tenant Farmers' Association), Ghantasala Venkatalakshmi (National Fishers' Federation), and numerous grassroots leaders from Kolleru villages.
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Tenant farmers demand immediate payment of paddy dues, transport charges
: The Andhra Pradesh Tenant Farmers' Association has urged the State government to immediately credit the pending dues related to paddy procurement, transportation, and handling charges into farmers' accounts. The association, on Thursday, submitted a memorandum to Manazir Jeelani Samoon, Managing Director of the Civil Supplies Corporation, highlighting the severe financial distress being faced by farmers across the State. The association pointed out that the districts such as West Godavari, East Godavari, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, Kakinada, Krishna, NTR, and Guntur are among the worst-affected regions, with large amounts pending. 'Pressure from lenders, growing interest on loans, and lack of response from officials have left farmers distressed,'' it said. Association State secretary M. Haribabu said that paddy dues crossed ₹1,000 crore. The farmers had been waiting for payments more than two months after selling their Rabi harvest. While some initial payments were made, no funds have been credited to farmers since May 8. In addition to the cost of harvesting, the farmers have been forced to pay upfront for transportation, labour, weighing, and gunny bags, which should have been covered by the government. With the Kharif season fast approaching, tenant and small farmers are now struggling to arrange fresh credit, buy seeds, and pay off old loans, he said. 'The situation is so dire that farmers are not just facing delays in payments but also losing eligibility for the zero-interest loan scheme, which requires repayment within the financial year. Because of delayed payments from the government, farmers will now have to pay interest on their borrowings,' he said. He warned that continued government negligence may lead to State-wide protests. The delegation included Mr. M. Haribabu, Krishna district unit secretary Panchakarla Rangarao, and NTR district leaders K. Srinivasa Reddy and G. Hanuman Reddy.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tenant farmers seek inclusion in Annadata Sukhibhava scheme
The Andhra Pradesh Tenant Farmers' Association has called for participation in the 'Chalo Mangalagiri' protest on June 11, demanding the State government extend the Annadata Sukhibhava benefit of ₹20,000 to every tenant farmer. State Secretary M. Haribabu, addressing a press meet in Guntur, on Monday (June 09) urged the government to remove the requirement of landowner signatures for issuing tenant identity cards and enact the promised new tenancy law. He criticized the current government for continuing the previous YSRCP-era law despite promising reforms.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tenant farmers plan protests in A.P. on June 9 for ID cards, crop loans
The Andhra Pradesh Tenant Farmers' Association State committee has passed a resolution to organise protests at all mandal headquarters on June 9, demanding immediate issuance of identification cards for tenant farmers, along with access to crop loans and investment assistance. In a statement on Friday, association president E. Katamayyah and general secretary P. Jamalayya said the kharif season was about to begin in the first week of June but the State government has not yet issued identification cards to tenant farmers. Without these ID cards, the farmers will be ineligible for crop loans. They demanded that the State government conduct Grama Sabhas and issue ID cards to tenant farmers without requiring landowners' consent. As per the RBI guidelines, they demanded that unsecured crop loans up to ₹2 lakh be issued as per the Scale of Finance norms. They also demanded that the 'Annadata Sukhibhava' scheme be extended to farmers for the upcoming kharif season. To pressure the government to implement these resolutions, the association called upon tenant farmers to participate in widespread protests on June 9 at all mandal headquarters across the State.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tenant farmers' association asks A.P. government to ensure supply of high-quality seeds
The Andhra Pradesh Tenant Farmers' Association demanded that the State government ensure high-quality seeds are made available to tenant farmers as the Kharif season is set to begin in the first week of June. In a statement on Sunday, the association president A. Katamaiah and general secretary P. Jamalaiah demanded that the State government immediately announce a cultivation action plan and ensure the availability of certified quality seeds for all required crops. Private seed companies have hiked prices excessively to profit, and in many districts, in the last Kharif season, these companies sold substandard and adulterated seeds, deceiving farmers, they said. They urged the Agriculture Department to conduct inspections of agencies and private seed shops, and to take strict action to prevent the circulation of spurious seeds. Legal action should be taken against companies and shop owners who cheat farmers by producing and selling adulterated seeds. If necessary, they demanded that the Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act (PD Act) should be used to curb this menace, they said. According to estimates by the Agriculture Department, about 85.65 lakh acres are cultivated every year in the State. Of this, 34.75 lakh acres is paddy, 14.80 lakh acres groundnut, 14.67 lakh acres cotton, 9 lakh acres pulses, and the rest is maize, green gram, black gram, and other crops. The government usually prepares seed stock in advance, based on these estimates. 'However, this year, the A.P. Seeds Corporation has reportedly failed to prepare it adequately. It is said that due to pending dues from previous years, seed suppliers are unwilling to supply to A.P. Seeds, causing delays,' they said. Considering this, the Tenant Farmers' Association demanded that the government urgently intervene and supply certified seeds for all crops on full subsidy.
