Untimely rains wreak havoc in Sircilla

Sircilla: The untimely rains for the past two days soaked thousands of quintals of food grains in various parts of the district, compounding the miseries of farmers of Rajanna Sircilla district. Farmers expect good returns for their produce during rabi season in May month but the unexpected rains accompanied with strong winds has dashed their hopes.

The heavy rainfall severely affected the food grains, which were not stored properly in the purchasing centres of Vemulawada, Choppadandi, Thadagonda and Boinapalli. The officials were not prepared for the unseasonal rain incurring heavy loss to farmers. Now the farmers are looking up to the government for relief.

Meanwhile in Thungalapalli mandal, thousands of quintals of food grains were lying in heaps in purchasing centres due to shortage of vehicles for transporting the purchased grains. There are no polythene bags in purchasing centres to cover the food grains and the farmers were worried by seeing rains in other parts of the district.

Banothu Somaiah Naik, farmer of Gopalraopalli village of Thungalapalli mandal, said that it was the farmers, who have been becoming victims of various kinds of problems. “After sweating out in the fields, we produce food grains and brought to the purchasing centres but the officials did not purchase them till date. And there is no proper place to store them safely,” he lamented.

The unseasonal rain and strong winds were also going to affect the yield of the king of fruits this season with many mangoes falling before ripening. But the reports received so far were encouraging as the rain has covered a large geographical area at an inappropriate time. It can also impact vegetable prices, an official said.

By Puli Sharath Kumar