AP Government Announces Good News for Farmers and Tenant Farmers

The Andhra Pradesh government has announced a significant welfare initiative aimed at supporting both land-owning and tenant farmers in the state. In a move to extend financial aid beyond traditional landholders, the government declared that farmers who cultivate land on lease, even without ownership rights, would now be eligible for assistance under the 'Annadata Sukhibhava' scheme.

The government has decided to provide an annual financial assistance of ₹20,000 to each eligible farming family under this scheme. This amount will include the ₹6,000 provided by the central government under the PM-Kisan Yojana. The consolidated sum will be transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts in three installments.

Farmers holding land rights certificates over forest lands—referred to as ROFR (Recognition of Forest Rights) documents—will also be included in the beneficiary list under this scheme.

To ensure swift and accurate implementation, the government has instructed officials to expedite the identification process of eligible beneficiaries at the field level. Assistants from the departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, and Sericulture, along with Tahsildars and Mandal Agriculture Officers, have been tasked with thoroughly verifying the details of tenant and ROFR farmers within their jurisdiction and preparing the eligibility lists accordingly.

These verified lists must be uploaded to the official ‘Annadata Sukhibhava’ website by May 20.

Under the scheme’s framework, a family unit is defined as comprising the husband, wife, and minor children. If children are married, they are to be considered separate family units. The scheme is applicable to those cultivating crops in agriculture, horticulture, and sericulture sectors.

However, the government has clearly stated that certain categories are excluded from this benefit. These include economically affluent individuals, current or former holders of constitutional positions, government employees, and professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, chartered accountants, and architects. Those who paid income tax in the previous financial year are also deemed ineligible for the scheme.