Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Ponnala Lakshmaiah has said that the Congress party will come to the rescue of hapless farmers, who lost the crops that had been harvested due to unseasonal rains in the region.
Mr. Lakshmaiah, along with TPCC Kisan Kheth Mazdoor committee chairman M. Kodanda Reddy and Ranga Reddy DCC president Kyma Mallesh, toured Nanakpet and six villages of Yacharam mandal in Ibrahimpatnam constituency of Ranga Reddy district on Sunday for an on-the-spot inspection of the damaged agricultural lands.
Standing crops and crops such as paddy, maize and chilly that had been harvested and stored in the farmlands were damaged in the rains that lashed the State. A large area under vegetable cultivation and mango gardens suffered extensive damage in the rains, farmers bemoaned.
They told the TPCC chief that many small and marginal farmers were worried as they had taken crop loans and were banking completely on the crops.
They expressed fears that banks would pressure them to repay the loans.
State calamity fundMr. Lakshmaiah said that all efforts would be made to see that the farmers, who incurred losses due to crop damage, are paid immediate compensation from the Calamity Fund.
He said once the Congress government assumes charge, it would create a special State Calamity Fund to help the farmers.
“As of now, the Central team is touring the State months after the natural calamity. By the time, they are given compensation, it is too late,” he said, adding that if the State fund was created, it would come as a big relief to farmers.
He said a special agriculture action plan would be prepared to enlighten farmers about what sort of crops could be grown in a short gestation period. “We will give you information on what type of short-term crops can be grown that are resistant to heavy rains and natural calamities,” he pointed out.
Many farmers, who broke down while narrating their woes, said non-availability of farm labourers in the last couple of weeks had resulted in the destruction of standing crops in the fields. They said as many farm labourers had enrolled in the MGNREGS programme and were provided wages. They lamented that if farm labourers had been available, the standing crops would have been harvested and brought home. They wanted the government to issue orders so that farm labourers are exempted from MGNREGS work during the agricultural season.
