ANANTAPUR: A team of officials from the National Agriculture Insurance Corporation (NAIC) and the State Bureau of Economics and Statistics visited several villages in the district on Thursday to study the groundnut crop loss, particularly in the post-harvesting phase (the loss suffered after the conduct of crop cutting experiments for the purpose of crop loss estimation).

Regional Joint Director of NAIC Rajeshwari Singh, Director of BES Saroja Rama Rao, Additional Director of Agriculture Rami Reddy and others visited several villages in Garladinne, Pamidi, Anantapur rural, Atmakur, Gooty and Guntakal mandals. During their visit to Guddalapalli, Kanumpalli and K. Eguvapalli, the officials stated that they were concentrating on the loss suffered in the post-harvest stage. As heavy rain in the second fortnight of October had caused extensive damage to the crop, including its hay, the loss per acre could be Rs. 3,000, they felt. Anantapur MP A. Venkatarami Reddy, Zilla Parishad Chairperson G. Thippeswamy, Singanamala legislator S. Sailajanath explained the loss to the officials and urged them to come to the rescue of the farmers. They stated that the loss suffered after plucking the crop, but before removing the pods, was very high.

The NAIC official said that the insurance corporation was not in a position to help farmers beyond the loss till the date of crop-cutting experiments as there was no such provision. Only the Government could come to the rescue of the farmers, she felt. The crop insurance compensation would be arrived at the loss estimated based on the crop-cutting experiments, she said.

Earlier, the team visited a photo exhibition organised on the extent of crop loss suffered this year. A delegation of the TDP, led by former MP K. Srinivasulu, submitted a memorandum to the team and urged them to help the farmers generously.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail