Central team assesses deficient rainfall impact on Kurnool farming

Kurnool: A Central Inter-Ministerial Drought Assessment Team (IMCT) visited Kurnool district on Monday to conduct a comprehensive field audit of crop losses and drought impact suffered during the 2026 Kharif season.

Led by Dr K Ponnusamy, Director of the Directorate of Oilseeds Development under the Union Government, the delegation inspected agricultural fields, water bodies, and irrigation systems across Cheruvu Thanda and Yerragudi villages in Tuggali mandal.

State Nodal Officer and Director of WCDM M Venugopal Reddy accompanied the central team, which included Anuradha Batana (NITI Aayog), Dheerendra Kumar (NPMU-PHE), Pradeep Kumar (Ministry of Food and Public Distribution), and Dr Sakshi Bhadauria (Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying).

The delegation commenced its field assessment by inspecting the major irrigation tank at Cheruvu Thanda to review storage levels and local water availability. Moving to Yerragudi village, team members walked through the agricultural fields of local farmer Hanumanthu to assess standing crop conditions affected by acute rainfall deficits.

The team also inspected a curated photo exhibition depicting district-wide crop damage and held an interactive session with local farmers to evaluate yield decline, input losses, and rural distress.

District Agriculture Officer Varalakshmi, Revenue Divisional Officer Obulesu, Horticulture Officer Raja Krishna Reddy, Animal Husbandry Joint Director Dr Rajasekhar, and Water Resources Superintending Engineer Shaileshwar accompanied the central representatives.

The IMCT compiled first-hand field data and farmer testimonials to formulate its official drought assessment report for central financial assistance allocation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

V Narendra Kumar

V Narendra Kumar[email protected]

Narendra Kumar Varikuntla is a seasoned journalist with 15 years of experience in reporting and news coverage. He holds a Master's degree in English Literature. He is Staff Correspondent for The Hans India based in Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh Before embarking on his career in journalism, he worked with Tata Robins Fraser (TRF) as a Confidential Assistant at the Rourkela Steel Plant, where he served for 10 years. His tenure at TRF enabled him to develop strong administrative, communication, and organisational skills, which have significantly contributed to his success in journalism. He began his journalistic career with Deccan Chronicle, where he gained valuable experience in reporting and news gathering. Since 2015, he has been serving as a Staff Correspondent with The Hans India, covering the erstwhile Kurnool district, including Kurnool and Nandyal. During his journalism career, Narendra Kumar has extensively reported on governance, politics, public affairs, social issues, agriculture, and developmental activities. He is known for his commitment to accurate, balanced, and responsible journalism, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. In addition to his journalistic profession, he is actively engaged in agriculture and personally cultivates 10 acres of farmland. His close association with farming provides him with firsthand insight into rural life and farmers' issues, enriching his reporting on agriculture and rural development.

Read More