Cyclone threat leaves farmers a worried lot

Dasari Srinivasa Rao
Vijayawada

A cyclone warning has left the farmers worried at a time when they are busy harvesting paddy and engaged in various agrarian activities. Cyclone Mandous is likely to cross the coast between East Godavari and Nellore districts.

In Krishna and NTR districts, the farmers are engaged in drying paddy on roads and various vacant places. They fear the cyclone and the rain alert and as harvesting, mainly of paddy, is now at its peak and all the farmers are busy with activities such as threshing and transporting the yield. The formation of the cyclone at the moment is frightening the farmers.

The farmers are used to being exposed to cyclones, crop damage and incurring debts for the past few years. It has become a common phenomenon for them. However, they are cultivating their lands with hope.

This year, the paddy yield is really good compared to the previous years and the farmers are happy. In Krishna and NTR districts, about 23 per cent of paddy has been harvested so far.

According to the Agriculture Department, paddy was cultivated in 6 lakh acres in both districts — 4 lakh acres in Krishna and 2 lakh acres in NTR District. Around 90,000 acres have been harvested in Krishna and over 40,000 acres in NTR District.

Meanwhile, the Civil Supplies authorities have procured 5,000 MT of paddy in NTR district and 48,000 MT in Krishna district so far through the Rythu Bharosa Kendras. Around 77 per cent of paddy crops are still in the field. Generally, the paddy works are completed by the end of December every year.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture and Civil Supplies officers alerted the farmers in the wake of the cyclone. Farmers were told not to engage in harvesting activities for the next three days.