Don't lose heart, Guntur collector tells Phethai-hit farmers

GUNTUR: District collector Kona Sasidhar on Thursday appealed to the cyclone Phethai-hit farmers not to lose heart as the government will extend all possible support to them.
Sasidhar said that the enumeration of crop losses will be completed within 2-3 days and the input subsidy will be released soon.
Sasidhar visited cyclone-hit agriculture fields in Amruthalur, Tsundur in Tenali division on Thursday.
“I admit that the damages are extensive and more than expected. Don’t lose heart. I am here to rescue all of you,” Sasidhar promised.
He said that they could manage the water supplies to protect the crop when there no rains for 2-3 months in the beginning of the season.
I hoped that we are going to get bumper yields during the season thanks to your relentless work in the field to save the crop with little waters. Unfortunately, the cyclone dashed our hopes at the end of the season when the crop is ready for harvest,” said collector.
Sasidhar directed the water resources department officials to deploy additional motors to pump out water from the agriculture fields so that the farmers could at least dry up the stock. He said that they would ensure purchase of discoloured paddy through civil supplies corporation.