Support farmers by providing compensation for crop loss: APRS

Vijayawada, Apr 8 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Ryotu Sangham (APRS) has urged Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to support the farmers by announcing compensation for the crop loss due to unseasonal rains in February and March.

Addressing a press conference here today, APRS General Secretary Kolli Nageswara Rao said, in a letter written to Dr Reddy on April six the APRS leaders stated that in the second week of February the crop loss in 13 districts was Rs 408 crore and from March 22 to 28 the loss was Rs 519.95 crore in 15 districts.

The state government had announced compensation of Rs 1,800 per acre for the damaged crops like paddy, groundnut and chilli and Rs 1,500 per acre for pulses and maize which was not sufficient for the farmers, as they had invested Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000 per acre on these crops, he added.

He said the government also announced that the Food Corporation of India (FCI), MarkFed and NAPED would procure the wet and discoloured paddy, Bengal gram and other crops by relaxing the rules.

Mr Rao also demanded the state government to abrogate the loans of those farmers, whose crops were damaged.

UNI CS GKT 1745