Cyclones Arnab, Murasu damage 13.21% of Krishna district’s paddy area

A farmer inspects damaged paddy crop following Cyclone Arnab, which made landfall near Narsapur on October 28.

Paddy suffered damage in 13.21% of the total sown area in Krishna district due to the two back-to-back cyclones, Arnab and Murasu, which battered the A.P. coast between October 28 and November 3.

Krishna District Agricultural Officer (DAO) Padmavathi told The Hindu that the officials have almost completed enumerating the agricultural losses suffered by farmers and that the report would be submitted to the State government in a day or two. Based on the report, the government will allot funds to the district for compensation to farmers.

The damage to agriculture in the district due to the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab, which made landfall near Narsapur in neighbouring district of West Godavari on October 28, was greater than the damage caused by Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu, which made landfall near Ongole on November 2.

According to information from the DAO, paddy, the major crop in the district and grown on 1,61,655 hectares, has suffered the maximum damage. The crop sown on 18,197 hectares in 24 of the 26 mandals in the district suffered damage due to Cyclone Arnab, while 3,160 hectares of standing paddy crop in 21 mandals were damaged during Murasu. The severity was more in the coastal mandals, the official said, adding that banana crop also suffered major damages.

A compensation of ₹25,000 will be distributed to farmers who suffered at least 33% crop damage. More than 35,000 farmers in the district fall into this category and are eligible to receive the amount. Of the over 35,000 farmers, those affected by Arnab account for 30,562, whereas 5,264 were affected by Murasu.

Meanwhile, in coastal villages of Nagayalanka mandal, which was declared drought-hit, no damage was reported as many farmers did not sow paddy due to water scarcity. According to sources, farmers in 20 villages in the mandal, which depends on canal water for irrigation, could not undertake cultivation this kharif season. The intensity of damage was less because of this reason, said Venkateswara Rao, a farmer from Nagayalanka.