Centre urged to send team to assess crop damages

Hyderabad, Feb 14 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today urged the Centre to send a team immediately to assess the crop damages caused by untimely rains in the State.

Addressing a press conference here, Dr Reddy said he had already discussed the matter with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

He said Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao and Ports Minister M Venkatarama Rao, who had toured the affected areas, had submitted a preliminary report which would be sent to the Centre.

Dr Reddy said as per the preliminary report, standing crops in an extent of six lakh acres worth Rs 695 crore, were damaged in Prakasham, Nellore, Krishna, Srikakulam, Guntur and Visakhapatnam districts.

He said unfortunately most of the farmers had not insured the crops under crop insurance scheme.

While assuring government's help to the farmers, he said he would request the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to purchase discoloured paddy from the farmers and discoloured tobacco through the Tobacco Board.

He said the government would also ask the insurance companies to provide insurance amount to the farmers, who had already insured their crop.

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