Farmers Seek Immediate Relief as Crops Dry Up in Anantapur

Former minister and YSRCP leader Dr Saké Shailajanath has urged the Andhra Pradesh government to immediately assess crop losses and extend relief to farmers facing severe losses due to inadequate irrigation and poor rainfall.

Shailajanath visited Chennampalli village in Bukkarayasamudram mandal of Anantapur district and inspected fields where sweet lime and groundnut crops were drying up due to water shortage. He was accompanied by Singanamala constituency youth leader Dr Saké Ruthvik, mandal president Guvvala Srikant Reddy and local farmers.

Speaking during the visit, Shailajanath said farmers were watching helplessly as crops raised with considerable investment and hard work were drying up for want of water. With inadequate rainfall leaving tanks without sufficient water and irrigation canals failing to receive supplies, farmers were struggling to protect their crops, he said.

He alleged that the coalition government had failed to give adequate attention to farmers' irrigation problems and demanded immediate intervention. The government should send officials to the affected areas, conduct a field-level assessment of crop damage and provide compensation to farmers who have suffered losses, he said.

Farmers told Shailajanath that they had been cultivating sweet lime and groundnut crops for years after taking loans and making substantial investments. The lack of rainfall and inadequate canal water had left many of them facing the prospect of losing their entire crop.

They also claimed that despite paying crop insurance premiums, they had not received any compensation from the present government for the losses suffered so far. Farmers further complained that officials had not visited their village to assess the situation or understand their problems.

Recalling the previous YSRCP government, the farmers said former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had ensured that the government paid crop insurance premiums on behalf of farmers and provided compensation when crops were damaged.

The farmers appealed to the government to act without delay, assess the extent of crop damage and provide timely financial assistance to help them cope with their losses.