Representatives of the Andhra Pradesh Tenant Farmers’ Association submitted a petition to the Commissioner of the Endowments Department, Ramachandra Mohan, seeking remission of lease amounts for farmers cultivating temple lands, who suffered severe losses due to the recent Cyclone Montha.
Association State secretary M. Haribabu, who led the delegation, said that the cyclone caused extensive damage to crops such as paddy, cotton and horticultural across the State. Farmers cultivating temple lands were among the worst affected, he noted.
According to the petition, the cost of cultivation increased sharply this season, and despite government compensation, farmers were unable to recover from the losses. The association pointed out that clearing damaged banana and papaya orchards alone required significant expenditure. Many tenant farmers had already paid their lease amounts in advance and were now struggling to continue cultivation.
The delegation appealed to the Endowments Department to allow two years of lease-free cultivation for those who paid advance lease amounts, and to grant a 50% reduction in lease for farmers who pay their lease after the harvest.
Mr. Ramachandra Mohan responded positively, assuring that once details of crop loss, extent of damaged land and related information were received from the district Collectors, the proposal for remission woud be examined.
Published – November 21, 2025 06:30 pm IST
