Facilitate Water Removal From Crop Fields: Collector

Visakhapatnam: District collector Sumit kumar has taken proactive steps to address the imminent threat to crop fields posed by the cyclone. He instructed officials to take necessary measures to address waterlogging issues in the crop fields.

Emphasising the urgency of the situation, the administration called for immediate initiatives to safeguard crops and sought cooperation from farmers in implementing preventive strategies. The directive came after a comprehensive teleconference held on Wednesday, bringing together key stakeholders, including agricultural officials, horticulture authorities, meteorologists, and district officers.
During the teleconference, clear instructions were provided to implement strategies for crop revival, road clearance, and addressing potential hazards in the event of unsuccessful revival attempts.

District agricultural officer S. B. S. Nand reported an estimated loss of approximately 600 hectares of paddy fields, with an additional 250 hectares having the possibility of recovery.

Expressing concerns over chilli crop loss, officials highlighted the need for urgent traffic management to ensure relief operations are carried out seamlessly. Plans for water pumping and the allocation of funds to support water conservation efforts were communicated during the meeting.

District horticulture officer A. Ramesh Kumar Rao shared ongoing efforts in Dummugudem, Araku, and Anantagiri mandals, which include initiatives such as cultivating vegetables post-mirchi crop damage in the Chittoor division.