Heavy rains damage maize and paddy stocks in Warangal and Khammam

Heavy rains in Warangal and Khammam districts have damaged maize and paddy stocks in market yards. Farmers are struggling with reduced prices from traders, while the Meteorological Department has warned of waterlogging in low-lying areas. Urgent government intervention is sought

Khammam/Warangal: Heavy to moderate rains lashed several parts of the erstwhile Khammam and Warangal districts in the past 24 hours, causing damage to maize and other agricultural produce brought to market yards.

In Warangal, maize that had been brought to the Enumamula Agricultural Market a couple of days ago and left in the yard for drying was soaked by the sudden rainfall since Sunday night. Farmers struggled to salvage the crop and move it to sheds.

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Although the Central and State governments had fixed the minimum support price for maize at Rs 2,400 per quintal, traders and middlemen are reportedly forming a syndicate to purchase the maize at reduced rates of Rs. 1,900 to Rs. 2,000 per quintal.

With no government procurement centres in place, farmers were left with no choice but to rely on private traders. Traders have reportedly been reducing prices daily, taking advantage of the situation, farmers alleged.

In Jangaon, untimely rains caused distress to farmers as paddy stocks brought to the Jangaon Agricultural Market were soaked. Around 25 to 30 truckloads of paddy have been waiting in the market for the past week. Farmers urged the State government to set up purchase centres and buy the soaked grain without imposing any conditions.

Moderate rainfall was also recorded in Nallabelli, Duggondi, Chennaraopet, Nekkonda, Narsampet, Khanapur, Rayaparthi, Parvatagiri, and Warangal mandals. Officials have warned of possible waterlogging in low-lying areas due to the continuous rainfall. The Meteorological Department has advised farmers to take necessary precautions in view of the rain forecast.

In Kothagudem district, several streams overflowed in Manugur, Aswapuram, Gundala, and surrounding mandals. Transportation to many villages in Gundala was disrupted as Edimelikalavagu overflowed. Manugur Tahsildar Naresh cautioned the public to remain alert amid the continuing rainfall.