The Hindu Business Line : AP to seek Rs 1,093-crore drought aid from Centre

THE State Government plans to seek financial assistance to the tune of Rs 1,093 crore from the Centre, following the failure of the southwest monsoon and its adverse impact on the farm community for the sixth consecutive year. It will also ask for 20 lakh tonnes of rice.

The Government prepared a detailed report, a day after the southwest monsoon season ended, which would be sent to the Centre on Friday. Later, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Chief Minister, would meet the Prime Minister to follow it up. The Government is optimistic of getting substantial assistance from the Centre, according to Mr Dharmana Prasada Rao, Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation.

"Dr Manmohan Singh had seen for himself the plight of the farmers in the State. We are hopeful of getting sizeable assistance," the Minister said.

The report on severe drought in the State has estimated agricultural production loss of 14.37 lakh tonnes worth Rs 1,044 crore, and said it has hit the rural economy already crippled by continuous dry spells.

"There was a dip of 23 per cent in the rainfall during the period. Only 477.3 mm of rainfall was recorded so far as against an average of 617.3 mm," Mr Prasada Rao told newspersons. He said of the 1,128 mandals, 755 had been identified as drought hit so far. "This is not a final figure. People don't get panicky," he assured.

The fact that southwest monsoon contributed 66 per cent of State's total rainfall showed the dependence the farmers on it. Though the North-East monsoon set in on Friday, its cover was limited to just four districts of Prakasam, Nellore, Cuddapah and Chittoor, forming 24 per cent of the total rainfall.

Keeping in mind the drought conditions, the Government so far spent Rs 200.49 crore on agricultural input subsidy, food relief and water supply.

Besides, the Government prepared a Rs 226.62-crore contingency plan to development of rural water supply sector and Rs 56.64 plan to improve water supply in urban areas.

The poor performance of monsoon resulted in a dip of 27 per cent in paddy sowing area and a shortfall of 19 per cent in food grain sowing area. This had got a cascading effect on the employment opportunities of 85 lakh agricultural labourers in 734 rural mandals.

Dry spells ranging from 26 to 35 days prevailed during August and September adversely affected the kharif crops especially groundnut in Rayalaseema and jowar, maize, castor and cotton in Telangana.

Mr Prasada Rao criticised former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for the poor state of affairs in the agricultural sector. "Confidence levels among the farmers hit new low during his nine-year old regime. That's why farmers continue to commit suicides notwithstanding our best efforts to improve their lot," he said.

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