Vijayawada: According to the first estimates from the Department of Agriculture, about 2,500 hectares of crops have been damaged on the Andhra coast due to Cyclone Asani.
Farmers growing paddy during the rabi season in NTR, Krishna, West Godavari, Narasapuram, Konaseema and Guntur districts expected good yields as the irrigation service provided water until the first week of may. The farmers were about to harvest the paddy.
According to the initial assessment, in Krishna district, about 650 acres of crops are damaged. Nellore, Kadapa and Prakasam districts also received around 15mm of rain on average on Wednesday which impacted mosambi, banana and other horticultural crops. The banana crop on about 250 acres was damaged by high winds in Mopidevi and Nagayalanka.
Mango crop on about 1,250 acres has been damaged in Nuzividu and Agiripalli areas of Eluru district.
Meanwhile, rice farmers are angry with authorities for the delay in issuing warnings. “Our paddy was ready for harvest and we were waiting for the moisture levels to drop. We would have harvested the paddy if the authorities had issued a cyclone warning at least two days ago. The government should take responsibility and announce a special package for us,” said Bollu Rama Rao, a rice farmer from Vuyyuru in Krishna district.
Officials and APSDMA said initial forecasts showed the cyclone would hit the coast of Odisha and not impact coastal and Rayalaseema districts.
Farmers growing paddy during the rabi season in NTR, Krishna, West Godavari, Narasapuram, Konaseema and Guntur districts expected good yields as the irrigation service provided water until the first week of may. The farmers were about to harvest the paddy.
According to the initial assessment, in Krishna district, about 650 acres of crops are damaged. Nellore, Kadapa and Prakasam districts also received around 15mm of rain on average on Wednesday which impacted mosambi, banana and other horticultural crops. The banana crop on about 250 acres was damaged by high winds in Mopidevi and Nagayalanka.
Mango crop on about 1,250 acres has been damaged in Nuzividu and Agiripalli areas of Eluru district.
Meanwhile, rice farmers are angry with authorities for the delay in issuing warnings. “Our paddy was ready for harvest and we were waiting for the moisture levels to drop. We would have harvested the paddy if the authorities had issued a cyclone warning at least two days ago. The government should take responsibility and announce a special package for us,” said Bollu Rama Rao, a rice farmer from Vuyyuru in Krishna district.
Officials and APSDMA said initial forecasts showed the cyclone would hit the coast of Odisha and not impact coastal and Rayalaseema districts.
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