HYDERABAD: The unseasonal rains might have brought some respite to people from the summer heat, but hail showers accompanying rains in parts of Telangana have left farmers in distress. Over the past 15 days, hail was reported in various parts of the state affecting standing crops and orchards.
According to initial estimates by the agriculture department, hailstorms damaged crops in nearly 36,000 hectares in 16 districts of the state. Not just standing crops, the rains dashed hopes of chilli farmers. Huge quantities of chilli kept for drying were soaked in rainwater and farmers fear that they may not get good price.
Some under-construction double bedroom houses in Khammam district were also damaged due to the strong winds. Meanwhile, officials said paddy crop was the worst-affected due to hailstorms. As per the preliminary estimate by the agriculture department, paddy was damaged in 29,000 hectares and maize in 6,200 hectares. Orchards like mango and orange were also damaged. In Nalgonda district alone, 9,000 hectares of standing paddy crop was damaged.
Also mango crop were damaged in about 200 acres in Nalgonda and Suryapet districts. Hailstorm took the residents of Miryalaguda, Vemulapally, Thripuraram, Nagarjuansagar, Dindi, Peddha Adisharlapally, Gurrampode mandals by surprise. The Primary Health Centre building in Thirumalagiri mandal headquarters was partially damaged due to a thunderbolt.
Several trees were also uprooted throughout the district in Arvapally, Nagaram, Thirualagiri, Mothey, Athmakur (S) and Noothanakal mandals in Suryapet. Mango crop was also damaged in Tekumatla, Pillalamarri and Ramaram villages of Suryapet mandal. The inundated roads that were strewn with uprooted tree did not allow the traffic to move between Suryapet and Janagon road.
Electric poles were damaged in Kanchanapally, Ajempet, Kotamarty village of Adaguduru mandal of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district. The house of Nandhanam village sarpanch Madhavi Satyanarayana was also damaged in the rains.
Congress leader and former MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy visited various villages in Devarakonda constituency assessed the crop loss issue. He demanded the government sanctions `20,000 compensation for each acre to farmers.
Meanwhile, State Farmers Coordination Committee chairman Guttha Sukhendhar Reddy said that sudden rains have damaged standing crops in 16 districts of the state. While addressing the media on Monday, he promised to farmers that 100 per cent compensation would be provided to them. Besides, `4,000 per acre as an investment subsidy. In Siddipet district, hailstones and rains damaged crops in 60 villages, confirmed officials.
Meanwhile, Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao and district collector P Venkatram Reddy called on the farmers of affected areas in Siddipet and assured all of help. Rao told the farmers that he would take the issue to the Chief Minister’s notice and ensure they get promised subsidies to keep them afloat.
Subsidy for affected ryots
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday said the government is ready to give input subsidy to the farmers who suffered crop losses
According to Chief Minister’s Office, Rao instructed the officials concerned to be on high alert as the state was experiencing widespread rain and thunderstorms.
He instructed the officials to make estimates of the crops losses. ‘’Reports should be prepared and sent to the government immediately,’’ Rao told Chief Secretary SK Joshi.
Joshi spoke to all the district Collectors over phone and asked them to prepare reports on the crop losses. He also instructed the officials to visit the affected places and assess the damage.
Preliminary report from siddipet
2,611 hectares of Paddy damaged
300 hectares of vegetables damaged
800 hectares of Mango damaged
All his crops damaged, farmer attempts suicide
Nalgonda: A farmer attempted suicide by consuming pesticides at his agriculture land at Yerraram village of Kodad mandal on Monday. Hussain(45) had cultivated Maize in his three acres of land. But due to sudden rainfall fall the crop got damaged and unable to bear the loss, he attempted suicide. He was shifted to Primary Health Centre for treatment and his condition is said to be stable.