Union Minister promises all help to cyclone-hit farmers in Andhra Pradesh

The central government will give maximum possible help to every farmer who lost crops because of cyclones 'Arnab' and 'Murasu'. Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar shared this promise during a visit to affected farms in Kollipara mandal. Paddy, black gram and cotton crops suffered heavy damage due to the storms. Farmers managed to grow nearly 50 bags per acre this year using water from the Pattiseema project, even though they faced dry weather caused by El Nino conditions.

Government Support And Relief

The government already gives ₹20,000 through the Annadata Sukhibhava-PM Kisan scheme and will give extra input subsidy after checking the exact crop losses. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ask for central help, and the Union Minister promised to follow up on this at the central level. Officials must finish counting the damaged crops within 48 to 72 hours without leaving out any affected farmer, even though staff are busy with election duties.

Action Plan For Farmers

Landowners must make sure that input subsidy reaches tenant farmers so that agriculture stays strong. Farmers should also sign up for crop insurance schemes to stay safe from natural disasters. Scientists from the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University are visiting assigned groups of seven to eight villages regularly to help farmers with crop protection and disaster management.

Context

Cyclones often hit the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, causing heavy damage to standing crops like paddy and cotton. State and central governments regularly use damage assessments and direct benefit schemes like PM Kisan to provide financial relief to affected agricultural workers.