The State government on Tuesday submitted a report to the Centre urging it to declare as many as 199 mandals in the State drought hit, owing to the rainfall pattern this season.
The report states that drought like situation prevailed at 43 mandals in Anantapur, 40 in Kurnool, 39 in Chitoor, 33 in Kadapa, 21 in Prakasam, 14 in Nellore and nine in Srikakulam.
Review meet
During a review meeting on agriculture, horticulture and sericulture with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu here, officials authorities informed the Chief Minister that there was a 20 per cent decline in the cultivated area across the State.
They said farmers were investing beyond their capacities in agriculture and due to the changes in weather, they were incurring huge losses.
Mr. Naidu wanted the authorities to gauge in advance the circumstances that were forcing farmers to commit suicide and analyse reasons that made them resort to the extreme step.
The Chief Minister instructed the officials to promote mechanisation in agriculture.
There were some companies, which were willing to offer farming machinery on hire to the farmers and the officials should conduct meetings with them to make things convenient for the ryots, he said.
Farming implements
on hire
“Efforts should be made to provide farming implements on hire to the farmers through Rythu Mithra groups or self-help groups and special centres should be established for this purpose,” he said.
Further, he directed the authorities to convene mandal and district wise meetings with bankers for granting loans.
With regard to palm oil prices, he instructed the officials to approach the Union Agriculture Ministry to increase the import duty.
The officials said nearly 4 lakh soil tests were conducted across the State, making it the leading State in the country.
Chief Minister was told that there was a 20 per cent decline in the cultivated area across the State
