No full-fledged enumeration of crop losses even as unseasonal rain causes acute distress to Telangana farmers
Several districts impacted, with Siddipet alone seeing nearly 20,000 acres of crop damage following heavy rain on May 4-5
Hyderabad: Unseasonal rain and hailstorms have taken a big toll on Rabi crops in the State for the last two-and-half months, from the second week of March to the end of May. The crop losses were extensive in several districts.
Farmers of paddy, maize and mango crops have borne the brunt of the losses. They have reported distress due to premature fruit drop and soaked paddy stocks at procurement centres. Several districts have been impacted, with Siddipet alone seeing nearly 20,000 acres of crop damage following heavy rain on May 4-5.
Multiple districts, including Mulugu, Adilabad, Nirmal, Mancherial, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Siddipet, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Sangareddy, Medak, Rangareddy, Suryapet, Yadadri Bhongir and Mahabubabad, have reported major losses. Paddy stocks at procurement centres in Mulugu, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mahabubabad and even some parts of Suryapet were rendered unfit for sale due to moisture exposure. At some places, even standing crops were flattened by strong winds.
Organisations such as the Rythu Swarajya Vedika and Telangana Rythu Sangham have been making efforts to prevail on the government for a comprehensive enumeration of crop losses and payment of compensation to the affected farmers. But their efforts too did not bear fruit so far. The government had indicated a compensation package at the rate of Rs 10,000 per acre for the affected farmers across 29 districts.
But a majority of farmers are not covered in the first spell of the enumeration exercise. The crop losses suffered in the current month are even more extensive. But there is no full-fledged assessment of the damage assessment so far, Rythu Swarajya Vedika leader Kondal Reddy said, stressing that the administration needs to have a serious approach to this issue. Even as the government assured to compensate at the rate of Rs 10,000 per acre, the need for crop insurance must be realised at this stage at least, he insisted.
Incomplete surveys and exclusion of tenant farmers have been key issues to be addressed. Farmers, in view of the worst experience they had this year in the absence of prompt response from the government, have been demanding the implementation of a state-backed crop insurance scheme. Many farmers are pleading for higher compensation ranging up to Rs 20,000 per acre depending on the severity of crop losses.
Uncertainty looms large over the compensation for the May 2025 losses. Surveys are under way in severely affected districts, including Nizamabad, Kamareddy and Warangal, to assess both standing and harvested crops.
