AP farmers who suffered crop losses due to unseasonal rains to be compensated

Farmers who suffered crop losses due to the unseasonal rainfall in the state will be paid compensation and there is no need for anyone to get anxious, said Andhra Pradesh Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Gopalakrishna Dwivedi on Thursday.

He said Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has already issued directives to departments concerned to assist the farmers comprehensively.

However, crop loss enumeration will begin once the rains stop, which is expected to last till Sunday as per weather forecast, said Dwivedi in a release.

He said assessment will be completed in a week and their count will be displayed in the 'rythu bharosa kendras' (RBKs) for another week for social audit.

The final list will be shared with the government in 15 days.

Dwivedi observed that in case farmers are facing any difficulty, they can reach out to the nearest RBK or dial toll free number 155251 to enable the control room for further monitoring. Noting that paddy, corn and other crops bore the brunt of the untimely downpour, Agriculture Special Commissioner Hari Kiran assured that the ryots will be compensated at the beginning of 2023 kharif season.

He said crops in 23,473 hectares of agricultural fields were damaged in the unseasonal rains during March and added that Rs 34 crore input subsidy will be credited into the accounts of those farmers before the start of kharif season.

Kiran said the state has remitted Rs 1,900 crore worth crop loss compensation until now.