Crop damage to up prices

Hyderabad

Oct. 7: Consumers will face another bout of increase in the prices of essential commodities, particularly rice and red gram, due to the extensive damage to crops in 2.41 lakh hectares of land.
There is also a likelihood of a drop in food grain production this kharif. Prices had shot up due to drought and now it’s the turn of floods to wreck havoc. Floods in Kurnool, Mahbubnagar, Krishna, Guntur, Nalgonda, parts of Kadapa and Prakasam districts have resulted in crop worth Rs 1,250 crore being damaged, according to preliminary estimates.
Food grain crops grown on as much as 2,41,000 hectares were submerged in the floods in the
affected districts and 9 lakh metric tonnes of food grains, worth Rs 860 crore, have been damaged, according to the agriculture minister, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy.
Paddy production is expected to drop from 85 lakh tonnes to 55 lakh tonnes, a shortfall of 30 lakh tonnes. Andhra Pradesh may have to import rice from other states, if needed.
The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, has asked the agriculture minister and other senior officials to
assess the damage to crops.
“After a disastrous drought unseen in the last 50 years, the state is reeling under
worst floods in last 100 years. Many places, including six districts, have been badly hit. Farmers are most affected by both drought and the floods,” Mr Raghuveera Reddy remarked. Paddy, cotton, groundnut, pulses, castor, maize, horticulture crops and sericulture in 2.41 lakh hectares have submerged in swirling waters.

Source::DC