45,763 hectares of agri, horticultural crops hit

Amaravati: The state government has stepped up the enumeration and assessment of cyclone-hit crop losses, with preliminary efforts indicating damage to 45,763 hectares of agricultural and horticultural crops across the State.

Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has directed officials of the Agriculture and Horticulture departments to complete the enumeration on priority and ensure that the actual field-level damage is accurately recorded. He stressed that every affected farmer should be identified and that there should be no errors or omissions in the records. According to the Agriculture Department’s preliminary assessment, crops have been affected across 1,229 villages in 190 mandals, involving 71,796 farmers and an estimated 44,029 hectares. Enumeration has so far been completed for 726 farmers in 45 villages across 19 mandals. The Horticulture Department has estimated damage to 1,734 hectares in 351 villages across 89 mandals in 14 districts, affecting 5,777 farmers. Enumeration has been completed for 445 hectares involving 950 farmers, while details relating to another 1,289 hectares are yet to be recorded.

Atchannaidu instructed joint directors, assistant directors and other field-level officials to personally visit affected areas and verify the ground situation. He directed them to treat the enumeration as a top-priority task and ensure that not a single farmer who actually suffered crop loss is left out.

The Minister also stressed transparency and accuracy in documenting crop losses and asked officials to submit comprehensive district-wise and crop-wise details to the government at the earliest.Cyclone Crop Loss, Crop Damage, Farmer Losses, Atchannaidu, Andhra Pradesh

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K Varaprasada Rao

K Varaprasada Rao[email protected]

K Varaprasada Rao is a Senior Reporter with The Hans India, covering the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat, Chief Minister's Office (CMO), State Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council and political affairs. With over 20 years of experience in journalism in Andhra Pradesh, he has extensively reported on governance, public policy, politics, and socio-economic issues that shape the state's development and influence the country's evolving landscape. He holds a postgraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. His reporting focuses on finance, industries, irrigation, agriculture, infrastructure, investment, public administration, and political developments, with a particular interest in analysing their long-term economic and social impact.

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