Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is also directing officials to take necessary steps in view of the likelihood of more rains. | Photo credit: File Photo
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to thoroughly assess the crop losses suffered by farmers due to untimely rains on March 18 and take necessary action in view of the likelihood of more showers.
Assessing the crop damage at an assessment meeting on Thursday, Mr. Naidu said updated weather information and warnings should be disseminated so that farmers are able to protect their crops as much as possible. He requested detailed information on the damage caused by the gale, rain and hail and steps to mitigate the losses.
Officials told the chief minister that according to preliminary estimates, the crop has been affected in 89 villages of 16 mandals, mainly in Krishna, Nellore, Sri Sathya Sai, NTR, Anantapur and Parvathipuram-Manyam districts. They said paddy fields were destroyed in 384 hectares, maize in 630 hectares and black gram in about 200 hectares and 2,043 farmers suffered losses. The total area of agricultural and horticultural crops damaged was 1,481 hectares, they said.
The rains badly affected horticultural crops in Anantapur, Sri Sathya Sai and NTR districts. Crops, including banana, papaya, mango and orange, were damaged in about 267 hectares, the chief minister’s officials said.
Published – 19 March 2026 18:42 IST
