Kakinada: Farmers in Konaseema area of East Godavari district are preparing to observe crop holiday during current kharif season alleging that their problems have been neglected by the government. They also fear cyclones, floods and other natural calamities this year.
The decision would affect nearly 1.50 lakh acres of crop. The farmers say that late release of water to canals is also one of the reasons for observing crop holiday.
It is learnt that the farmers who own over 1,100 acres of land at Anathavaram initially decided not to go for paddy crop this kharif and informed this to revenue and agriculture officials.
“The farmers of Bendamoorlanka, Allavaram, Komagiripatnam, Allavaram, Uppalaguptam, Katrenikona and other areas voluntarily have decided not to go for kharif crop as it is not viable for it. We thought that canals would be modernised and developed, but the government could not do it. The government also could not release water to canals early. Farmers should have completed transplantations for this time. Under these circumstances, cultivation is not viable in the present khariff season,” said Bharatiya Kisan Sangh state secretary Mutyala Srirama Nagendra Prasad, himself a farmer.
Mr Singh said that there will be no crop in nearly 1.50 lakh acres which is higher than previous crop holiday acreage of one lakh acres.
Bharatiya Kisan Sangh state general secretary Jalagam Kumara Swamy welcomed the farmers’ decision. He said that it was better to go for crop holiday as the government was not interested in addressing their problems.
Meanwhile, Mummidivaram tahsildar M. Veerraju said that the farmers of Anathavaram informed him about their decision to go in for crop holiday.
