Cyclone Murasu damages over 274 hectares of crop area in Prakasam district

ONGOLE More than 274 hectares of agricultural crop area was damaged across seven mandals in Prakasam district due to Cyclone Murasu, affecting the livelihoods of 371 farmers, District Agriculture Officer (DAO) Srinivasa Rao told The Hindu. The seven mandals include Ballikurava, J. Pangulur, Mundlamuru, Addanki, Santhamaguluru, Naguluppalapadu and Korisapadu.

Of the total enumerated area of 274.19 hectares, the Agriculture Department has approved 267.08 hectares and rejected 7.11 hectares. According to information provided by the District Agriculture Officer, maize is the major crop in the district and has suffered the maximum damage across 154.17 hectares, followed by paddy and cotton crops sown on 66.02 hectares and 49.78 hectares respectively. Black gram and sugarcane are the other crops that have also suffered damage due the heavy rains triggered by the cyclone.

The paddy fields in Kothareddypalem, Singarakondapalem, Dharmavaram, Kalavakuru and Chinakothapalli villages in Addanki mandal were inundated.