Compensation sought for Krishna Delta farmers facing water shortage
YSRCP leader M.V.S. Nagi Reddy is urging the Andhra Pradesh government to provide compensation to Krishna Delta farmers suffering from a 49% rainfall deficit. He argues that current government advice to switch crops is impractical due to soil conditions and requests direct financial support instead.
Why it matters
This highlights the economic strain on agricultural communities caused by climate-related water shortages and the challenges of implementing state-mandated crop diversification.
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and former Vice-Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Agriculture Mission M.V.S. Nagi Reddy on Thursday urged the State government to declare drought-hit or crop-holiday mandals in the Krishna Delta and extend compensation to farmers facing severe water shortages this kharif season.
In a representation to the Commissioner of Agriculture, Mr. Nagi Reddy, while citing the to APWRIMS data, said the Krishna Delta registered a rainfall deficit of around 49 per cent, against a State-wide deficit of 51.5 per cent.
Farmers are being advised to avoid paddy cultivation and take up alternative or Arutadi crops in the absence of adequate water availability. However, such a shift is not feasible across the delta, where nearly 98 per cent of the kharif crop acreage is traditionally under paddy cultuivation, he said.
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