Bridging the Gap for Tenant Farmers: A case study of Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

The present study investigates the impact of Crop Cultivation Rights Cards (CCRC) on the livelihoods of tenant farmers. The CCRC, introduced by the Andhra Pradesh government in 2019, is designed to make it easier for tenant farmers to obtain formal credit and government facilities. Descriptive statistics, two-way ANOVA, and Chi-square tests were used to analyse the data. The study reveals that half of the farmers possess CCRCs, which are essential for accessing government services, support, and credit in the study area. The majority of farmers reported multiple benefits from possessing CCRCs, including improvements in the living conditions of tenant farmers. The study concludes that CCRCs represent a positive step toward tenant recognition but remain constrained by landlord dominance and weak institutional delivery. Policy measures such as mandatory lease registration with safeguards, stronger monitoring of Rythu Bharosa Kendras, and revised credit ceilings are recommended. The paper contributes to debates on tenancy reform by providing micro-level evidence on the functioning and limitations of CCRCs in Andhra Pradesh.