Due to the unseasonal rains, mango farmers in Kollapur have suffered heavy losses and are appealing to the government to bail them out from the crisis.

Mangoes are extensively cultivated in the district covering an area of over 33,000 acres. Of these, nearly 23,000 acres fall under the limits of four mandals in Kollapur region.

Compared to last year, this year the acreage had increased considerably but the government failed to extend the requisite support to farmers. Rythu Bharosa was not extended to all farmers and crop loans of many farmers were not waived. As a result, farmers were forced to take loans of nearly Rs 2 lakh per acre from private money lenders, BRS leader R Abhilash Rao charged according to reports.

To make matters worse, due to the unseasonal rains that lashed during the last two to three days, farmers in Kollapur, Koderu, Pedda Kothapally and other areas suffered heavy losses, he said at a press conference.

Many tonnes of mangoes were damaged and many trees aged over 10 years got uprooted in different areas. Despite the widespread destruction, officials and elected public representatives did not visit the damaged crops and assessed the loss, he charged.

Similarly, Alampur MLA Vijayudu demanded the State government to extend compensation for chilly and tobacco farmers, who suffered heavy losses due to the unseasonal rains.

After inspecting the damaged chilly crops in Manavapadu and other areas on Monday, the MLA charged that neither officials nor elected public representatives turned up to assess the damage. Each farmer had invested about Rs 2 lakh per acre and due to the unseasonal rains, they suffered heavy losses, he said.

The State government should procure all the stocks from farmers and rescue them, he demanded as per reports.

Source - https://telanganatoday.com