Khammam crop loss put at 40.5-cr

Khammam,Nov 13: The District Agriculture Department in a report submitted to the State Government has put the losses to the crop in the district following drought and inadequate rain at around Rs.40.50 crore.According to Agriculture Joint Director Raghavendra Rao,paddy in 38,000 hectares, cotton in 1.23 lakh hectares were damaged
partially.Thousands of acres of land have gone waste in the district due to shortage of water.Cotton and paddy crop in 1.61 lakh acres have been affected by pests, stated Rao.Thousands of acres of green fields have changed their colors as the fields have not been getting adequate water.

“Crops are being swarmed by pests heavily this season” he said.Meanwhile,Telugu Desam leaders are ready to fight for the provision of state government assistance to the farmers affected by drought.They also evolved an action plan to secure the Krishna water to the fields from Nagarjuna Sagar Project.Farmers from Khammam,Gunturu,Prakasam,Nalgonda and Krishna districts are constantlt engaged in a battle of wits for water.Former minister and Khammam legislator Thummala Nageswar Rao said the farmers are in dire straits because precautionary measures were not taken by the Government.Krishna water should be released to the fields for Rabhi crop,he demanded.

Efforts are underway by the government to release water from Nagarjuna Sagar Project for Rabi crop.Minister for Labour,Employment and Cooperation Ramireddy Venkat Reddy recently assured that the government would release water for Rabi season.“The proposals sent to the government entails an expenditure of Rs.1100 crore to support the farmers in the district,” he said.A team who studied the drought conditions have also observed the situation in the district, he added.