Agriculture damage estimated at Rs 1,250 crore

Hyderabad, Oct 7:

 The state government will take all steps for rehabilitating the flood-hit farmers, assured Minister for Agriculture Raghuveera Reddy on Wednesday. Talking to media persons at the secretariat, the Minister said that the total damage to Agriculture sector had been estimated at Rs 1,250 crore with food crops accounting for a loss of Rs 850 crore.

He disclosed that paddy production in the State would be hit by 30 per cent on account of the floods and the kharif yield may not exceed 55 lakh tonnes. He said that the government would reschedule the loans of farmers and give fresh loans to farmers to take up Agriculture operations in kharif season. Festilzers, Agriculture tools and seeds would be provided to farmers at subsizised price, he added.

According to the preliminary assessment by the state government, crops damage was severe in Kurnool, Mahabubnagar, Krishna and Guntur and standing crops raised in 2,40,000 lakh hectares have been damaged in Nalgonda and Srikakulam.

For those who lost their standing crops in floods, the government would give input subsidy. The officials have estimated to give Rs 135 crore input subsidy to flood-hit farmers. To raise alternative crops in flood hit areas, the government has proposed to give Rs 35 crore. He directed the agricultural scientists to estimate the crop loss properly in mandals and submit the report to government as early as possible.