The Palamuru region, which comprises the five districts of Mahbubangar, Wanaparthy, Nagarkurnool, Narayanpet, and Gadwal, has been hit by heavy rains for the past two days. The untimely rains have caused significant damage to crops such as paddy, mango, maize, and vegetables. The standing crops that were about to be harvested were severely damaged due to the heavy hailstorm in almost all regions. The damage caused by the rain and hailstorm has resulted in a huge loss for farmers across hundreds of acres of land.
The mango farmers have suffered severe losses as the mango pods in many orchards fell due to the hailstorm. The onion farmers have also been impacted, with their crops being destroyed in horticulture gardens in various places. The paddy farmers with standing crops for harvest are the worst hit across the Palamuru region. It is estimated that the paddy crop across 3.2 lakh acres has been sown in the district. While those suffering from a lack of water have received some respite, those with standing crops are the worst affected.
Not just the agriculture sector, but businesses like brick kilns have also been badly damaged due to the untimely rains. Mango orchards located in Narayanapet, Gadwala, Balmur, and Vanaparthi mandals were also severely damaged due to the unseasonal rains. It is estimated that mango plantation over a thousand acres may have been destroyed in Jadcherla constituency alone.
The farmer community is urging the State and Central governments to assess the crop damage due to the untimely rains and provide assistance to them by paying compensation for their loss. Farmers who have already taken loans for investment are expressing concern that untimely rains will drown their crops while they are paying off those loans with hefty interests.
In conclusion, the untimely rains have caused significant damage to crops in the Palamuru region, resulting in a huge loss for farmers. The government needs to assess the damage and provide assistance to farmers to help them recover from their losses.
