Reduce crop losses amid untimely rains: Naidu

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday asked officials to regularly inform farmers on weather conditions to reduce crop losses. His remarks come in the wake of untimely rains across six districts that have affected over 1,200 hectares. "Alert farmers with regular weather updates and take steps to lower crop losses," Naidu said in an official release. The CM held a review meeting on crop losses due to the recent rains and hailstorms. The officials informed the CM that the rains affected crops in 89 villages of 16 mandals across the districts of Krishna, Nellore, Sri Satyasai, NTR, Anantapur and Parvatipuram Manyam. According to preliminary estimates, paddy crop was affected in 384 hectares, corn (630 hectares) and black gram (200 hectares), leading to more than 2,000 farmers suffering losses.