Paddy, maize banana veggies hit badly in Telangana

HYDERABAD: Untimely rains over the last few days have caused extensive damage to crops in many districts. Among the worst hit in north Telangana districts were paddy, maize, sesamum, bajra, mango, banana and vegetables. Paddy farmers incurred heavy losses at the harvesting stage while sesamum crop was affected at the pod maturing stage and bajra at the grain filling stage.

Unseasonal rains lashed undivided Nizamabad, Adilabad, Karimnagar, Medak, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and other districts from April 23 to 25. Some farmers were ready to sell their produce at the nearest paddy procurement centres, which the government has set up to ensure minimum support price.

Meanwhile, the district collectors directed agriculture officials to go on field-level surveys to assess crop damages. The officials collected preliminary crop damage details of above 33 percent damaged crops. District collectors suggested the survey teams collect the crop damage details by April 29. The overall compile reports will be submitted to the state government, which will take the eventual call.

The paddy procurement process was also hampered by the rains. There is no infrastructure support with which farmers in villages can save their produce from natural calamities. The distressed farmers staged rasta roko in Kamareddy, Sircilla and other districts demanding compensation for the damaged crops.