Minister inspects rain-soaked paddy

PNS|Bapatla

Minister for Social Welfare Meruga Nagarjuna has promised to take steps to purchase wet paddy produce from the farmers and protect the interests of rain-affected farmers. The minister, along with Collector Vijaya Krishnan, visited some of the fields at Ravikampadu village in Kolluru mandal and saw the paddy crop damaged by rain. He also saw the harvested paddy heaps soaked in rainwater. The minister interacted with the farmers and enquired about the loss of crop. The minister assured the farmers to extend all needed help.

Nagarjuna said that the enumeration of crop loss would be taken up in a transparent manner and steps would be taken to procure the damaged paddy produce from the Rythu Bharosa Kendras. The minister also promised to purchase paddy from the farmers at MSP.

The minister deplored that the heavy rains under the influence of Mandous cyclone caused heavy damage to the crops in the Bapatla district and the worst affected crop is paddy. The paddy farmers bore the brunt of cyclonic storm, he lamented as their harvested, as well as ready-to-be harvested crop, got damaged by the incessant rains. The minister asked the farmers not to trust the mediator and get deceived.

Collector Vijaya Krishnan asked the rain-affected farmers not to lose confidence as the government would extend the needed help and promised them to purchase the damaged paddy produce from them. Joint Collector K Srinivasulu, RDO Parthasarathi, district agriculture officer Sheik Abdul Sattar and Civil supply manager Srilakshmi and other officials were among those who accompanied the minister.

Later the minister inaugurated a secretariat building constructed at a cost of Rs 40 lakh at Ravikampadu village. Speaking on the occasion the government administration was made accessible to the people though the village secretariats in the state. He appreciated the secretariat staff for their services to the people.