Horticulture crops in 5,228 hectares damaged in NTR district

Vijayawada: The incessant rains and floods have taken a heavy toll on the farming community, with horticulture crops over an extent of 5,228 hectares being damaged in the NTR district.

State horticulture department director Dr L. Srinivasulu, along with other officials, inspected the damaged crops in the Ibrahimpatnam Mandal area of the district on Wednesday. Dr Srinivasulu informed the farmers who suffered crop losses that an enumeration would be conducted and assured them of assistance from the government.

The horticulture director inspected cauliflower, chilli, vegetable plantations, and mango and palmolein orchards in Kotikalapadu, Kethanakonda, and Mulapadu villages in Ibrahimpatnam Mandal, assessing the crop damage.

During his inspection, the horticulture director inquired whether the horticulture department officials had advised the farmers on the precautions and measures needed to protect their crops from damage caused by rains and floods. He assured the farmers that the department would enumerate the crop losses and submit a report to the government. He also directed the horticulture department officials to prepare an enumeration report detailing the crop losses suffered by each farmer. District Horticulture Officer P. Balaji Kumar, Mandal Horticulture Officers Neelima and Kiranmai, and other officials were present.