Farmers in various parts of the state have been affected by unseasonal rains for the second time in a few weeks. They are upset that the procurement process for their harvests has been delayed, causing them to become waterlogged during the rains. This issue has been ongoing, with agricultural produce frequently exposed to unseasonal rains when brought to market yards and procurement centres. As a result, millers are able to purchase paddy and other agricultural produce at rates lower than the minimum support price (MSP), which has further aggravated the farmers’ situation.
Venkata Reddy, who accompanied his father to the procurement centre at Choppadandi, said that whatever is brought to the centre is getting drenched due to lack of necessary facilities. Within 24 hours of a video conference with district collectors, the State Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari directed them to ensure that paddy stocks piled up at procurement centres are not exposed to unseasonal rains. She also asked them to submit reports of crop damage before May 1 and appointed special officers to every mandal to collect crop damage data. Additionally, she announced that compensation for crop damage promised by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao would be disbursed.
