Rain guns to save standing crops

Anantapur: Joint Collector B Lakshmikantham said that rain guns are being pressed into service on a mission mode to save the standing crops in the district and every day 20,000 acres are being covered. The rain guns are being pressed into action in all the mandals to save the drying up crops. So far 55,000 acres of land had been supplied water to wet the crops and save them total damage, he added.

Addressing a review meeting via teleconference here on Friday, Lakshmikantham asked agriculture officers, mandal-level staff and others to take steps to save the last acre from suffering damage in the district.

As part of the action plan, about 40,000 acres are planned to be irrigated through borewells, 15,000 acres through village tanks and farm ponds and some extent of crops through canal water. About 4,500 rain guns, 4,000 sprinklers and 2,000 oil engines have been procured to make them available to the farmers.

The Joint Collector asked mandal-level officials to remain in their mandals and act as technical officers to attend to problems if any. He directed the senior district officials to effectively monitor the crops on a mission mode in the district. The services of DWCRA women groups can also be utilised in this regard, he added.

About 25 minor irrigation tanks having water has been identified in the district and to tap the water sources and fire engines, the Joint Collector said.

Farmers intending to purchase rain guns can do it so by taking advantage of the 60 per cent
subsidy. The beneficiary contribution is a mere Rs 10,000. Those intending to purchase one may send a DD of Rs 10,000 in favour of APMIP Project Director.