Hans News Service Guntur

Heavyrains followed by strong winds, triggered by Cyclone Murasu, damaged paddy, cotton and black gram crops in Guntur district. According to official sources, paddy crop was worst affected in 8,430 hectares, cotton in 1188 hectares followed by black gram crop in 1000 hectares.

According to the guidelines issued by the government, the farmers whose crops were damaged more than 33 percent are eligible for input subsidy. The farmers whose crops were covered under the crop insurance scheme will get compensation for crop damage. The farmers whose crops were damaged less than 33 per cent are not eligible for any compensation. They would have to bear the loss.

Agriculture department officials sent the crop damage reports through the concerned district collectors to the government for further steps. Rainwater stranded in the agriculture fields caused crop damage and paddy was discoloured. Similarly, cotton and black gram crops were damaged.

Cyclones Arnab and Murasu damaged the crops. The farmers whose crops were damaged due to recent cyclones, are not in a position to recover from the losses and are seeking a helping hand from the government.