HYDERABAD: Caught in the web of rules that prohibit the Government from extending the benefit of ex gratia to tenant farmers, the Government is depending on the kindness of landowners in flood-hit areas to bail them out.

The recent floods caused heavy damage to crops in the Krishna delta area in West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts to the extent of more than Rs. 1,200 crores, according to preliminary estimates.

The Government has announced compensation of Rs.750 per acre for the damaged crop apart from assuring payment of crop insurance and 50 per cent subsidy on paddy seed.

This announcement brought little cheer to the tenant farmers as the rules of compensation apply only to landowners. However, more than 60 per cent of 13 lakh acres of land under irrigation in the delta is under cultivation by tenants.

Tenancy farming

Estimates prepared by the Rythu Sangham reveal that more than 90 per cent of lands are under tenancy farming in the mandals of Vuyyur, Penamalur, Kankipadu, Pamidimukkala, Thotlavallur, Gudivada, Bapulapadu, Vungutur, Mudinepalli, Movva, Pamarru and Ghantasala in Krishna district alone.

While the `Kauldaari Act' (Tenancy Act) fixes a 30 per cent ceiling on the owners' share of the produce, the norm is never adhered to. Minister for Agriculture N. Raghuveera Reddy says "Rules prohibit us from extending help to the tenants. Hence, I toured 70 flood-hit villages and tried to convince farmers to pass on the benefit to tenants." He told The Hindu that district Collectors had been directed to issue cheques to farmers in the presence of the tenants to see that help reached the more deserving. "Some farmers agreed, but the others need persuasion. But, if someone refuses, there is little that we can do," he adds.

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