Guntur Collector Visits Cyclone-Hit Farms and Promises Help for Farmers

Guntur District Collector C.M. Saikanth Varma visited crop fields in the Somasundarapalem and Kancharapalem villages of Tenali mandal on Thursday to check on paddy damaged by heavy rain and strong winds from Cyclone Arnab.

Official Directions

Farmers told the Collector that their paddy plants had fallen over because of the bad weather. They worried that ongoing rain and winds would ruin their harvest and lower the quality of the grain. Mr. Varma told agricultural officials to talk with experts and give farmers fast technical advice. He ordered workers to drain extra water right away so it does not pool on the farmland. Mandal officers must visit fields all over the district, check the crop health, and help farmers constantly. He also told them to write and submit reports on every single crop loss.

Expert Advice

Top agricultural scientists Dr. Ch. Sujani Rao, Dr. M. Ratnam, and Dr. N. Sambasiva Rao gave advice to the growers. They told farmers to clear out drainage paths, leave fallen plants alone instead of trying to lift them up by force, and wait on putting down fertiliser in wet fields. The scientists warned people to watch out for pests and diseases like blast, sheath blight, bacterial leaf blight, stem borers, and leaf-folders. Farmers should only use pesticides and sprays if they actually see bugs or disease, and they must follow the rules from the Agriculture Department. Spraying needs to stop when it rains or blows hard. The experts also said careful watering and harvesting plans are vital to stop grains from sprouting early and losing their quality.

Context

Heavy rain and strong winds during cyclone seasons frequently cause severe damage to standing paddy crops across coastal regions in India. Local district administrations and agricultural departments routinely step in with drainage operations and expert advisories to help farmers manage crop lodging and pest risks after severe weather events.