VIJAYAWADA: Heavy rains that are lashing Rayalaseema region for past few days have brought bag of woes to the farmers, who were suffering losses due to years of drought in the region. The situation is no different in twin Godavari districts, Guntur and Vizianagaram of Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Farmers incurred heavy losses. Farmers in all eight districts of the state have suffered crop loss due to heavy rains for past two weeks. Though officials have pegged the loss at Rs 22 crore, some admitted that it may cross the Rs 100-crore mark as commercial and horticulture crops have suffered severe damage.
According to official records, the area facing crop loss stood at 21,500 hectares on Thursday evening. Crop damage was reported in Kurnool, Anantapur, Kadapa, Chittoor, West Godavari, Guntur, Vizianagaram and East Godavari districts.An official of the agriculture department said the enumeration of the damage caused was still going on and the process would continue for another week to 10 days. More areas are likely to get affected as rain continues to batter the state.
Crop damage was relatively higher in Kurnool, Anantapur and Kadapa districts. In Kurnool alone, 7,829 hectares of crop was damaged. While the area of crop damage stood at 4,200 hectares in Anantapur, in Kadapa district 1,100 hectares was affected. Around `50 lakh worth of onions, which were ready for sale in the market got washed away in the heavy rains in Aspari village. G Veeranna, who owned those onions and was expecting good price was reduced to tears. In Anantapur, groundnut and horticulture crops including banana and papaya suffered damage in the unprecedented rains never seen in last two decades. Special official teams are now engaged in enumerating the crop loss.
Rain woes continue
7,829 hectares of crop damaged in Kurnool district alone
4,200 hectares in Anantapur
1,100 hectares in Kadapa district
Rs 50 lakh worth of onions, which were ready for sale in the market got washed away in the heavy rains in Aspari village