HYDERABAD: Irked at the inordinate delay, farmers spilled onto the roads demanding immediate disbursement of compensation for the crop damages they have suffered due to thunder and hail storms from March 17 to 21. Kamareddy farmers in large numbers took out a rally to mount pressure on the state government.
Crops in over 1.51 lakh acres were damaged and spread across 26 districts. Agriculture officials carried out a field survey and identified that 1,30,988 farmers, including tenant farmers, had incurred losses due to untimely rains.
Meanwhile, the agriculture department submitted field survey reports to the higher-ups. Based on the preliminary report, the state government sanctioned ₹151.64 crore amount as an input subsidy.
In the Warangal district, damages were on 60,936.26 acres of crops with 48,587 farmers incurring heavy losses. In Khammam district, it was 23632.17 acres (18258 farmers) while in Mahabubabad it was 11685.13 acres (12684 farmers).
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Kasha Ramulu, a farmer of Bhiknoor in Kamareddy district said that they will intensify the agitation if the government fails to credit the crop compensation amount by next week.
