Rain and Gusty Winds Wreak Havoc on North Andhra Crops
Visakhapatnam: Rain accompanied by gusty winds has damaged standing banana, maize, cashew, and mango crops in parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Mango farmers in the region are worried that further thunderstorms and gusty winds may further reduce yield and quality, as the crop is in its harvesting stage.
Extent of Damage
At least 800 to 1,000 acres of banana, cashew, and mango crops in parts of north Andhra, including Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalle, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, and Parvathipuram Manyam districts, have been damaged by thunderstorms and gusty winds over the past few days.
Erratic weather and pests have hit the mango crop hard this year, with yield declining by around 50 percent. The mango and cashew farmers were further distressed as recent rains washed away the remaining hopes, with standing crops damaged, said V Naidu, a mango farmer in Manyam district.
Mango Cultivation in North Andhra
Mango cultivation in north Andhra Pradesh covers 50,000 hectares in Vizianagaram, Anakapalle, Srikakulam, and Manyam districts. Most farmers have been growing Banginapalli, Suvarnarekha, and Panukulu varieties to meet demand in Odisha, West Bengal, Mumbai, Delhi, and a few other parts of north India and abroad.
The north Andhra region is famous for its Suvarnarekha mango variety. The fruit has beautiful golden-yellow skin with a reddish blush. The pulp is juicy and sweet, with a subtle tang, and is fibreless. However, this year the Suvarnarekha mango became dearer due to poor yield, said mango traders. At least 500 acres of banana crop were damaged in parts of the Manyam and ASR districts due to gusty winds, they added.
Weather Forecast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh (CAP), Yanam, and Rayalaseema. Gusty wind speeds of 40-50 km/h are likely at isolated places over the CAP and Rayalaseema for the next two to three days.
Farmers are advised to take precautionary measures and stay alert for further weather warnings.
