Farmers bear brunt of cyclone

Guntur: The farmers in the district suffered a huge loss as the cyclone Phethai inundated standing crops, paddy, chilli, cotton, maize, pulses and horticulture crops in thousands of acres in Guntur. Paddy fields in thousands of hectares in Tenali revenue division were perished due to heavy rains.

Chilli, cotton and horticulture crops were damaged in Guntur, Narasaraopet and Gurazala revenue divisions. Accoding to primary reports, paddy sheaves inundated in 7,300 hectares and 38,664 hectares in sea prone mandals of Tenali revenue division. If rain continues, paddy, cotton, chilli maize, pulses and other horticulture crops would also suffer huge damage.

According to sources in agriculture department, paddy is being cultivated over 6.5 lakh acres of Krishna western delta region of Guntur district during kharif. Harvesting completed in 50 per cent of paddy fields. According to officials reports, paddy fields likely to damage in Repalle, Nizampatnam, Bapatla, Aduvuladeevi, Nagaram, Bhattiproblu, Kolluru and Kollipara mandals of Tenali revenue division in the district.

Similarly, chillis and cotton gardens tilted in Palndu region of Guntur district. The farmers are worried as the untimely rain water damage their crops. The revenue and agriculture teams are assessing the crop damage caused due to cyclone. District Collector Kona Sasidhar said the district administration has taken all the steps to avoid human loss and property loss due to cyclone.