Tenant farmers begin 30-hour hunger strike in Vijayawada, demand recognition and direct benefits

All India Kisan Morcha State Convenor and former Minister Vadde Shobhanadreeswara Rao on Monday (February 23, 2026) launched a 30-hour indefinite hunger strike demanding justice for tenant farmers. He stated that tenant farmers form a major component of agricultural cultivation in the State.

The protest was organised under the leadership of the NTR and Krishna district committees of the A.P. Tenant Farmers’ Association.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Shobhanadreeswara Rao demanded that ₹20,000 under the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme be extended to all tenant farmers. He also called for the removal of the mandatory landowner’s signature requirement in issuing tenant farmer identity cards and insisted that crop loans, compensation for losses, and insurance benefits be paid directly to tenant farmers.

A.P. Agricultural Workers’ Union general secretary V. Venkateswarlu alleged that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu failed to fulfill pre-election promises of recognising tenant farmers, enacting a special law for their protection, and extending welfare schemes to them.

Senior leader of the A.P. Farmers’ Association Y. Keshava Rao pointed out that although the recent State Budget earmarked ₹52,000 crore for agriculture, there was no specific mention of tenant farmers. He stressed the need for united struggles to safeguard their rights.

Tenant Farmers’ Association State general secretary Maganti Haribabu criticised the government for continuing policies it had opposed while in opposition, terming it “YSRCP 2.0.” Speakers warned that small and marginal farmers could gradually disappear if current trends continue, with vast tracts of land allegedly being transferred to large corporate entities. They accused governments of facilitating such shifts and condemned the use of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against public movement activists while allegedly offering protection to exploitative forces.