The Hindu Business Line : `Cyclone-hit AP tobacco farmers left in lurch'

THERE has been extensive damage of tobacco crop in the coastal districts due to the recent cyclone but the Tobacco Board has not made an accurate assessment or reported the damage, as a result of which farmers are suffering hardship, according to Mr P. Chengal Reddy, Chairman of the State Federation of Farmers.

Mr Reddy said at a press meet here on Thursday that the team of the federation had visited Guntur, Krishna, Prakasam and Nellore districts and found that the tobacco crop had been damaged. But the board officials seemed indifferent to the plight of farmers, he alleged and urged the State Government to go to their rescue.

He said the paddy farmers had invested heavily in the crop in the Krishna delta and raised the kharif crop amid extremely difficult conditions and the cyclone had arrived at the most inopportune moment.

He urged the Government to initiate steps for providing them quick and adequate relief. He also urged the Government to take the scheme of modernisation of the Krishna delta as a long-term measure.

In another statement issued at Guntur, Dr Y. Sivaji, President of AP Virginia Tobacco Growers' Association, said the Government should help tobacco and other farmers.

``All specifications should be waived for paddy purchase in the affected areas, as the extent of damage is more than 50 per cent in many areas. Therefore, a slight relaxation in moisture content and other parameters is not sufficient,'' he said.

The Andhra Pradesh Poultry Federation also issued a statement seeking relief to affected farmers, as in many areas the sheds were damaged and the mortality of the birds had shot up.

Chicks, medicines and vaccines worth Rs 20 lakhs were distributed to the farmers on behalf of the federation. Ms Anuradha Desai, Chairperson of the Venkateswara Hatcheries, contributed the amount.

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