Naidu For Advancing Crop Season To Avert Risks

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed agriculture officials to advance the crop season to protect Kharif crops from cyclones.

Acting on these instructions, the Agriculture Department has already initiated early release of irrigation water to the Godavari and Krishna delta regions. During a review meeting at the Undavalli camp office on Tuesday, officials briefed Naidu on these developments.

Water has already been released through canals to farmlands in West Godavari, Eluru, Konaseema, East Godavari, Kakinada, and Krishna districts. Plans are in place to supply irrigation water to Guntur, Bapatla, and Prakasam districts in the first week of July. Officials noted that paddy, red gram, groundnut, and cotton are the primary crops during the Kharif season. While groundnut and cotton cultivation has declined, red gram has seen an increase and paddy cultivation remains stable. According to official sources, Andhra Pradesh has faced 14 cyclones in the last 20 years—five in October, six in November, and three in December. October cyclones have particularly impacted the north coastal region and the East Godavari district.