Hyderabad: Farmer organisations on Friday demanded that the Telangana govt immediately begin recognising tenant cultivators under the Licensed Cultivators Act, 2011, and enable them to sell produce at MSP. They warned that further delay could deepen distress amid low rainfall and the El Nino effect.At a joint press meet at Basheerbagh Press Club on Friday, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Telangana Kaulu Raitula Gurtimpu Sadhana Committee (TKRGSC) sought the issuance of cultivator cards from the current kharif season. They urged the cabinet subcommittee constituted to examine the issue to take a quick decision rather than allow further delay.The committee said the 2011 Act already provides for the recognition of tenant cultivators through village-level public enquiry. Citing its study, it said the OTP-based mechanism for registration with procurement agencies had enabled only 6.7% of tenant cotton farmers, 8.5% of maize and soybean farmers, and 17% of paddy farmers to sell produce in their own names.SKM leaders said recognition process should begin in Sept and warned of statewide protests, including in Hyderabad, if the process was delayed further. The groups said representatives of nine political parties backed the implementation of the Act at a Sept 2 roundtable, while eminent citizens issued an open letter on Sept 5.
