Untimely rains break the back of paddy farmers

Pithapuram: Heavy rain lashing the mandal right from the Thursday morning poured cold water on the paddy farmers dreams of reaping a bumper harvest. The rains experienced for four times in the last one week caused extensive damage to the standing paddy crop.

Paddy became wet and discoloured. Paddy dried in the drying yard started sprouting. The climate is not even favourable to dry the paddy.
The farmer is virtually reduced to tears as his investment at the rate of Rs 30,000 an acre has gone down the drain.

The gales destroyed the paddy crop in 1.56 lakh hectares in the mandal. Only 60 per cent of the paddy harvesting has been completed. Vast majority of the paddy harvested has been dried in the drying yards.

Tenant farmers who pay a lease of Rs 20,000 an acre pin their hopes mostly on the second crop. But, the rain has played havoc with the second crop dashing their hopes of reaping a good harvest.

Pithapuram MLA NVSN Varma, visited the mandals where the paddy crop has been damaged. He said that he had ordered agriculture officials to assess the loss to the crop. He said that he had spoken to the district collector and assured all help to the farmers on behalf of the state government.

By Saride Nageswara Rao