Two Cyclones Damage Over 4.6 Lakh Hectares of Crops in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has directed officials to speed up the assessment of agricultural and horticultural crop losses caused by Cyclones Arnab and Murasu across the state. He emphasised that no eligible farmer should be excluded from the compensation list and instructed the Agriculture and Horticulture departments to ensure that all damage details are recorded without delay. The minister reviewed the progress of crop loss assessments during a teleconference with senior officials on Tuesday.

According to officials, Cyclone Arnab damaged 3,27,843 hectares of agricultural crops across 15 districts, affecting 5,23,136 farmers. According to officials, Cyclone Arnab damaged 3,27,843 hectares of agricultural crops across 15 districts, accounting for 30.05 per cent of the 10,90,933 hectares covered by the damage assessment and approximately 3.7 per cent of Andhra Pradesh's total cultivable land of 89.69 lakh hectares. Production losses were estimated at 9,78,091 tonnes, translating into a financial loss of ₹2,392.84 crore. Konaseema district was the worst affected, with 99.19 per cent of its cultivated area damaged and 94,808 farmers suffering losses estimated at ₹348.88 crore. The damage assessment under SDRF and NDRF stood at ₹815.57 crore and ₹714.96 crore, respectively.

Cyclone Murasu caused agricultural crop damage across 1,33,351 hectares in nine districts, affecting 1,86,269 farmers. Nearly 23.71 per cent of the total cultivated area of 5,62,445 hectares was affected. Officials estimated production losses at 3,38,302 tonnes and the overall financial damage at ₹816.53 crore. The corresponding assessments under SDRF and NDRF were ₹321.64 crore and ₹266.67 crore.

The minister also reviewed the enumeration of horticultural crop losses. Cyclone Arnab damaged 23,211.48 hectares across 215 mandals and 1,310 villages in 15 districts, affecting 58,990 farmers. Officials have completed 99.24 per cent of the assessment, covering 23,035.08 hectares. However, enumeration for 360 farmers remains pending. Fourteen districts have achieved complete coverage, while Krishna district has recorded 86.67 per cent progress.

The assessment following Cyclone Murasu remains a concern, with only 32.77 per cent of the affected horticultural area covered so far. Of the 6,748.52 hectares damaged across eight districts, enumeration is pending for 4,536.79 hectares involving 9,194 farmers.