Unseasonal rains hit farmers

Kothagudem: The unseasonal rains that lashed the district, twice in a week, have damaged crops in thousands of acres. Particularly paddy crop in about 3,500 hectares was damaged in the district. The agricultural officials are busy in surveying the fields in all mandals to access the crop loss.

Crops in Yellendu, Dammapet, Aswaraopet and Burgumpadu mandals in the district were totally damaged due to the untimely rains. Paddy crop in about 2,500 hectares in these mandals was completely submerged in rain water. According to officials, sugarcrane crop in about 1,000 hectares was damaged. Horticulture crops in Dammapet, Aswaraopet, Charla, Pinapaka and Bhadrachalam mandals were damaged.

Speaking to The Hans India, a farmer from the district, P Narasimha Rao said, “the unseasonal rains have ruined our lives by damaging the crops”. He appealed to the State government to support them by purchasing the water-soaked paddy for minimum support price.

Assistant Director, agriculture department, A Abhimanyudu, speaking to The Hans India, said that they have been surveying the extent of damaged crops in all the villages. Paddy and sugarcrane crops in more than 3,000 hectares in the district were damaged and a rough estimation of crop loss was submitted to the government. The staff are busy with survey, which will be completed within three days.

Once the survey is completed, final report will be submitted in this week, he said.Ch Mariyanna, the horticulture department officer, said that nearly hundred hectors of banana crop was damaged in the district. Banana trees fell due to heavy rain combined with wind. The farmers in Aswaraopet, Charla and Bhadrachalam mandals have incurred heavy loss due to the rains, he said.