Atchannaidu orders speedy enumeration of cyclone-hit crop losses

Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu has directed officials of the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments to expedite the enumeration of crop losses caused by the cyclone and ensure that no affected farmer is left out of the process.

Reviewing preliminary reports on crop damage and the progress of enumeration, Mr. Atchannaidu stressed the need for field-level verification to accurately assess the extent of damage to agricultural and horticultural crops. He instructed officials to ensure transparency and accuracy while recording details of affected farmers and their crop losses.

Preliminary estimates of the Horticulture Department indicated that horticultural crops had been affected in 89 mandals and 351 villages across 14 districts. Crops over 1,734 hectares were estimated to have been damaged, affecting 5,777 farmers. Enumeration had so far been completed for 445 hectares covering 950 farmers, while details relating to another 1,289 hectares were yet to be recorded.

According to preliminary estimates of the Agriculture Department, 1,229 villages in 190 mandals had been affected. Crop loss was reported among an estimated 71,796 farmers, with agricultural crops damaged over about 44,029 hectares. Enumeration had so far been completed for 726 farmers in 45 villages across 19 mandals.

The Minister directed Joint Directors and Assistant Directors of Agriculture and Horticulture, Agriculture Officers, Horticulture Officers and other field-level staff to treat the enumeration as a priority. Officials were asked to personally visit the affected areas, assess the ground situation and ensure that details of every farmer who had suffered crop loss were recorded.

He also directed the departments to complete the exercise at the earliest and submit comprehensive district-wise and crop-wise details of the damage to the government.