Sudden rain coupled with heavy gales on Monday night has caused extensive damage to the agriculture sector in various parts of the district.
Paddy, that was brought to the agricultural market yard in the town, was washed away owing to non-availability of adequate tarpaulins to protect the crop. In other mandals, paddy kept at IKP procurement centres was damaged due to sudden downpour.
Farmers from Elgandal village said over 300 gunny bags of paddy were washed away in the rain on Monday night. Chigurumamidi mandal recorded 48.4 mm rainfall, followed by Kesavapatnam mandal with 27 mm, Saidapur- 23.2 mm, Karimnagar- 22.2 mm and Veenavanka received 22 mm, with the entire district recording 19.55 mm rainfall on an average. On Tuesday, CPI district unit leaders visited the Karimnagar agricultural market yard and inspected the damaged paddy. They also staged a dharna in front of the AMC chairman’s office demanding procurement of the damaged paddy.
CPI district secretary K. Ramgopal Reddy alleged that delay in procurement of paddy by the authorities was the reason for farmers losing their crop to rain. He flayed the officials for delaying the procurement process on the pretext that the moisture content was high when the temperature was soaring over 42 degree Celsius.
Alleging that the market authorities were responsible for the damage caused to paddy produce, he demanded that the government procure the damaged paddy providing MSP to farmers. He also criticised the authorities for not providing adequate tarpaulins and gunny bags to farmers to safeguard their crop. CPI district leaders P. Kedari, A. Swamy, Kalwa Narsaiah Yadav, and others were also present.
