Vizianagaram: The Hudhud cyclone had totally changed the lives of the people of the coastal villages in Vizianagaram district. The poor fishermen and small farmers are totally devastated by the cyclone.
They have lost their homes, crops and other assets and are left with nothing.
Hundreds of acres of coconut trees were totally destroyed in Pativada in Pusapatirega mandal.
K. Satyam, a farmer of Pativada said, “I have been growing these coconut trees for the past 10 years. Now the trees in six acres were totally destroyed. Coconut is the main income source for the farmers of this mandal. We get the income every three months from these trees. We get around Rs 50,000 as income. Now I have lost all the income and I don’t think these trees will come into life again. We don’t have the insurance. The government had announced the compensation Rs 1,000 per each tree, but what is the use of it as we have lost all hopes.”
Maize crop in hundreds of acres was also ruined.
Farmers of betel leaves are affected and lost their crops in Nellimarla mandal.
Around 30 families are into betel leaves farming in Kothapeta in Vizianagaram district. The gale washed away the plants. They are farming the crop in around 12 acres. Twice a week they cut the leaves and send it to the market. But now they have lost their crop.
K Narayana, farmer of betel leaves said, “I spend around Rs 20,000 on these plants. I protected all the plants from hot summer by providing shade and water regularly. But now I could not save my crop. I am in deep trouble now.”
