Cyclonic rains damage paddy across district

Kothagudem/Khammam: Unseasonal rainfall caused by cyclone Pethai has left farmers in erstwhile Khammam district in a quandary. Standing crops in large extent area and harvested paddy were damaged due to continuous rainfall since Sunday evening. The impact was more in Kothagudem district. Eleven mandals witnessed excess rainfall and 13 mandals received above 50 mm rainfall.

According Met department officials, during the past 24 hours Dammapet mandal in Kothagudem district received 11cm rain. The following are among those received heavy rainfall: Aswaraopeta-9.1 cm, Mulakalapalle-8.2 cm, Chandrugonda-8 cm, Kothagudem-7.5cm, Julurpad-7.cm, Manuguru-7.1cm and Paloncha-7cm.

In Khammam district, of the 21 mandals, five received heavy rainfall and three mandals witness excess fall of rain while seven mandals recorded above 50 mm rain since Sunday. Sathupalli received 8.8 cm rain, Enkoor-7.6 and Vemsoor-7.5cm rain.  

The result was that all the low-lying areas were inundated and crops like chilli, tobacco, paddy nurseries and cotton in water-logged agriculture fields were damaged at Annapureddipally mandal and other areas.

The heavy rains and strong winds have caused havoc to banana plantations in Dammapeta mandal. In the same manner, farmers growing vegetables also suffered huge loss due to the cyclonic rains.

Bundles of paddy sheaves left in the fields to dry out before processing. The processed paddy stocked at paddy procurement centres and agriculture market yards and at open yards in the villages were soaked leaving the farmers in a sticky situation.

The farmers are worrying whether they would get good price for the soaked paddy or not. They wanted the government to take remedial measures by directing concerned officials to procure damaged paddy. The official are taking measures to help the affected farmers in the district.