Sat Dec 21 06:32:45 UTC 2024: ## Andhra Pradesh Farmers Face Heavy Losses After Unprecedented Rains
**VIZIANAGARAM, Andhra Pradesh (December 21, 2024)** – Unprecedented rainfall in Vizianagaram district has devastated paddy crops, leaving thousands of farmers in distress. The district received 2698 mm of rainfall in the past three days—a stark contrast to the normal 99 mm—resulting in significant crop damage and financial losses.
The deluge, coupled with a lack of adequate storage facilities, forced farmers to leave their harvested paddy exposed in the fields. Many lack even basic tarpaulins to protect their grain. This situation has also threatened the livelihoods of agricultural laborers, whose wages are now at risk due to the delay in crop sales.
The Rythu Coolie Sangham of Andhra Pradesh has criticized the government’s response, alleging a failure to adequately support farmers during this crisis. The organization is urging the government to purchase the damaged crops directly from the fields to prevent further losses.
While the district produced nearly 2.10 lakh metric tonnes of paddy this year, the government claims to have already procured 1.83 lakh metric tonnes. District Collector B.R. Ambedkar stated that agriculture officials are working to advise farmers on crop protection techniques and that 1,600 tarpaulins have been distributed. He further promised that the remaining 22,502 metric tonnes of paddy will be purchased at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) within days. However, the scale of the damage and the concerns raised by farmer organizations highlight the urgent need for more comprehensive government intervention.
First Piper 