Amaravati, Mar 19 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday asked officials to regularly inform farmers on weather conditions to reduce crop losses.
His remarks come in the wake of untimely rains across six districts that have affected over 1,200 hectares.
“Alert farmers with regular weather updates and take steps to lower crop losses,” Naidu said in an official release.
The CM held a review meeting on crop losses due to the recent rains and hailstorms.
The officials informed the CM that the rains affected crops in 89 villages of 16 mandals across the districts of Krishna, Nellore, Sri Satyasai, NTR, Anantapur and Parvatipuram Manyam.
According to preliminary estimates, paddy crop was affected in 384 hectares, corn (630 hectares) and black gram (200 hectares), leading to more than 2,000 farmers suffering losses.
Further, officials noted that horticultural crops were also affected in Anantapur, Sri Satyasai and NTR districts by the untimely rains which lashed parts of the southern state in the run-up to summer.
As many as 267 hectares belonging to 307 farmers were affected, which had banana, papaya, mango, orange and other crops.
Moreover, the CM instructed officials to compile comprehensive details of crop losses.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department forecast severe thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and squally winds and moderate to heavy rainfall at a few places in Prakasam district on Friday evening.
It also forecast similar weather in parts of Parvatipuram Manyam and Vizianagaram district. PTI STH KH
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