3-year rule did not pay even 10% crop damages: Atchanna
Rs 20,000 Cr worth crops lost under Jagan rule
AMARAVATI: TDP state president K. Atchannaidu on Saturday urged Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to rescue the farmers who suffered severe crop losses in the untimely rains and gales.
Atchannaidu said the farmers suffered heavy crop damages in mango, sapota and lemon orchards in the latest hail storms and gales. Sufficient compensation should be paid to them to recover from losses.
In an open letter to the Chief Minister here, the TDP leader deplored that the crops were damaged in the rains that were lashing for over 10 days. Fruit orchards, paddy and chilli crops were badly damaged. Already, the farmers were stuck in mounting debts on account of a series of natural calamities.
Atchannaidu told the CM that in many places, the farmers had put their food grains on the roads for drying up. The chilli crop nearing harvest got wet in the rains in Palnadu district. Harvest-ready mango got damaged in Railway Kodur area in Annamayya district.
The TDP leader expressed concern that the banana crop had been hit in gales and rain. Mango crop was damaged in Kuppam in Chittoor district and Tirupati surroundings. The gales caused heavy damage to horticulture crops.
Atchannaidu said that the chickpea crop was damaged in Addanki, Panguluru and Santhamaguluru areas in Prakasam district. The farmers were in deep distress as the crop was damaged before the harvesting. The natural calamities and lack of remunerative prices put the farmers on the verge of committing suicides.
The TDP leader reminded the CM of his pre-election promise of Rs. 3,000 Cr price stabilisation fund which never materialised. Over 50 lakh acres of crops were lost in the nine cyclones in the last three years. Over Rs. 20,000 Cr worth crop damages were done but the Government did not give even 10 percent.
