Over the loss assessment begins

Rajahmundry: Paddy and horticulture crops like banana and mango suffered damage causing heartburn to farmers and tenant farmers following the rainfall accompanied with gales during the last two days in several parts of the Godavari districts.

In West Godavari, paddy lodging was reported in about 16,000 hectares. Paddy heaps in about 4,400 hectares and paddy sheaves in about 11,000 hectares were damaged due to the rains.
Stagnation of rain water was reported in about 5,000 hectares. The areas affected include Kalla, Bhimavaram, Palacole, Achanta, Narasapuram and Yelamanchali mandals.

Agriculture authorities said that out of paddy sown in about 1.78 lakh hectares during the Rabi season, the crop was harvested in about 1.2 lakh hectares, about 65 per cent and the damage to the crop reported in the remaining 50 hectares. The paddy is of 1010 variety and under the influence of gales, it suffered grain shattering.

On the other hand, the farmers in the district got good yields and on an average, they reaped 40 to 50 bags of paddy per acre during Rabi against the targeted 36 bags. The authorities attribute such a good yield to the better water management practices adopted by the farmers.

West Godavari agriculture joint director V.D.V. Krupadas said, “As there is respite in the rainfall and prevailing dry spell in the last several hours, there is a good chance for the lodged paddy to recover and the extent of damage minimised.”

Banana crop suffered damage in about 160 hectares in mandals including Achanta, Kamavarapukota, Pedavegi, Dendulur and Kovvur. Horticulture authorities say that the crop was 90 per cent of the crop was already harvested.

Mango orchards suffered fruit falling due to the gales Chinthalapudi, Dwaraka Tirumala, Jangareddygudem and Gopalapuram mandals. About 40 per cent of the crop in the district was harvested.

In East Godavari, paddy lodging was reported in about 33,000 hectares, area falling under Amalapuram, Tuni and Sankhavaram mandals based on preliminary reports.

Following prevalence of a dry spell in the last several hours, the agriculture authorities maintain that the extent of damage to paddy might be less. With regard to horticulture crops, banana suffered damage in about 20 hectares, mainly in Prathipadu and Pitapuram mandals.

Fruit drop in mango reported at Jaggampeta and other areas in the district and the authorities maintain the extent of loss will be to the tune of 30 per cent.