Paddy in 10k acres damaged

Farmers in Agency areas decry nonchalance of agriculture department officials, threaten to launch strike

Kothagudem: As much as paddy crop in 10,000 acres has been dried up in the Agency areas, particularly in Charla mandal, due to insect bites strongly affecting the interests of farmers.

They accused the Agriculture department officials of not inspecting the crop and failing to give adequate precautions.

Describing their plight, the farmers told The Hans India that spraying of various insecticides has not helped them overcome the crisis. They want the government to pay compensation, otherwise warned of launching agitation.

According to farmers, they have raised the crop in 15,000 acres, thanks to water supply from Taliperu and adequate rains. When the crop was ready for harvest, it was hit by the mosquitoes and other pests. As a result, it was damaged.

The farmers said already paddy crop in 6,000 acres in R Kothagudem has been affected, besides the fields in Satyanarayanapuram, Kudunuru, Bodanelli, Kurnapalli, Pathacharla, Subbampet and Koyyur areas.

The farmers who stated that they had spent Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 per acre, expressed their anguish over the nonchalance of officials of Agriculture department who had gravely ignored their plight.

“If the department officials don’t respond, we will protest in front of the Collectorate or burn the crop,” thundered the farmers.