States » SouthPosted at: Oct 28 2026 7:08PM


AP Cyclone: Extensive damage to crops, Agr. Minister seeks Centre’s assistance

Vijayawada, Oct 28 (UNI) Severe Cyclone Arnab has caused extensive damage to agricultural and horticultural crops across Andhra Pradesh, prompting State Agriculture Minister K Atchannaidu to seek immediate financial assistance from the Centre for affected farmers.
In a letter to union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Atchannaidu said preliminary reports indicated that crops over 2,24,489 hectares had been inundated or damaged in 14 districts, affecting about 3.45 lakh farmers.
Of the affected area, 2,11,726 hectares were agricultural crops, including 2,09,460 hectares of paddy. West Godavari reported the highest damage at 76,176 hectares, followed by Konaseema district with 44,232 hectares and Kakinada with 42,222 hectares.
The Agriculture Minister said the cyclone struck when paddy was at the grain-filling to harvest stage, raising fears of lodging, grain sprouting, discoloration and damage to already harvested produce. In West Godavari, about 82 per cent of the paddy area was reportedly submerged, while the figure was 75 per cent in Konaseema and 48 per cent in Kakinada, he added.
Atchannaidu said in the letter that horticultural crops across 12,763 hectares were also hit, banana plantations were uprooted and fell to ground by strong winds, while coconut trees suffered broken crowns, falling nuts and uprooting in parts of West Godavari and Konaseema. Vegetable, papaya, flower and betel-leaf crops also sustained damage, he observed.
Atchannaidu requested that input subsidies be extended to affected farmers under the norms of the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). He also urged the Centre to release advance funds for emergency relief and restoration before the submission of the comprehensive damage-assessment report.
Officials from the Agriculture, Horticulture and Revenue departments would conduct joint field inspections once floodwaters recede to finalise the extent of losses, the Minister said, adding that the figures could rise as rains and strong winds continue. UNI DP CDS
Tags: #AP Cyclone: Extensive damage to crops# Agr. Minister seeks Centre’s assistance
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