Cyclones Arnab, Murasu damage 13.21% of Krishna district’s paddy area

VIJAYAWADA Paddy suffered damage in 13.21% of the total sown area in Krishna district due to the two back-to-back cyclones, Arnab and Murasu, which battered the A.P. coast between October 28 and November 3.

Krishna District Agricultural Officer (DAO) Padmavathi told The Hindu that the officials have almost completed enumerating the agricultural losses suffered by farmers and that the report would be submitted to the State government in a day or two. Based on the report, the government will allot funds to the district for compensation to farmers.

The damage to agriculture in the district due to the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab, which made landfall near Narsapur in neighbouring district of West Godavari on October 28, was greater than the damage caused by Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu, which made landfall near Ongole on November 2. According to information from the DAO, paddy, the major crop in the district and grown on 1,61,655 hectares, has suffered the maximum damage.