Unseasonal rains damage maize crops in parts of Karimnagar; Rythu Sangham stages dharna in Khammam

KARIMNAGAR / KHAMMAM

Unexpected summer showers accompanied by gusty winds lashed several parts of the combined Karimnagar district late on Monday night, causing damage to maize crops on hundreds of acres in Jagtial, Peddapalli and parts of Karimnagar district.

According to sources, the unseasonal rain turned out to be a bane for scores of maize farmers as their standing crops were flattened under the impact of strong gales coupled with showers.

Moderate to extensive damage to standing crops of maize has been reported from Metpalli, Korutla, Kathalapur and various other mandals in Jagtial district. Mango orchards in Raikal and other parts of Jagtial district bore the brunt of gusty winds in the middle of the harvesting stage.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Rythu Sangham Khammam district committee has demanded that the government immediately set up maize procurement centres under the aegis of the TG MARKFED.

The members of the Rythu Sangham led by district secretary B. Rambabu staged a dharna in front of the Tahsildar’s office in Wyra to press their charter of demands. He said farmers have cultivated maize on nearly two lakh acres in the combined Khammam district this season.

In the wake of the forecast of unseasonal rains in the next few days, the government should immediately open maize procurement centres to prevent any damage to the maize crop and distress sale of their produce by the farmers. Paddy procurement centres should also be set up in Dachapuram, Gannavaram and Garikapadu villages in Wyra mandal, he demanded.

The demands include speedy resolution of land issues, including regularisation of Sada Bainama applications through Bhu Bharati portal and sanction of pattadar passbooks.