Nilam Cyclone caused an estimated loss of Rs 400 crore to various crops and nurseries in East Godavari district.
All fields were completely submerged in flood water in various parts of the district.
The main reason for inundation of crops is lack of proper drains, which the government has not maintained for three decades.
Because of this, paddy and other crops in upland areas were also damaged. As many as 138 tanks and 61 drains were breached.
Consequently, the farming community in the district incurred enormous loss this season.
Farmers alleged that the district administration had not guided them properly about the rains and cyclone.
When contacted, officials of the agriculture department said that the final report of crop damage would be submitted to the government soon.
A farmer, K Rama Raju of Polavaram said, “Nilam cyclone struck hard ahead of the harvest season, dashing our hope of a good crop.”
Another farmer M Subba Raidu of Allavaram said, “The farming community is cultivating crops by God’s grace. We cannot tell if the harvested crop will come to us till the last minute. If it rains heavily and natural calamities like cyclones or floods hit our crops, we will be in great trouble.”