Floods damaged crops on 13,000 acres in Andhra’s Srikakulam, says Agriculture Department
Joint Director of Agriculture says waterlogging has turned standing paddy black; drones will spray nutrients once the water recedes
Floods have caused significant damage to 13,000 acres of crops in Srikakulam district, according to the Agriculture Department. Joint Director of Agriculture Y.V. Murali Krishna stated that the total count of losses will be completed within a few days. Murali Krishna and other senior officials have been conducting inspections in flood-affected areas such as Burja, Amadalavalasa, Polaki, Santhabommali, and other mandals.
On September 28, 2026, the first inspection round in Allina and other villages of Burja mandal was finished.
The damage was primarily due to sulfide caused by continuous root logging in floodwaters, rendering standing paddy crops dark and black. This damage will negatively impact the yield, but the agriculture department plans to provide nutrients and fertilizers to help the crops recover once the water recedes. Agriculture scientists from Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, and the Naira Agriculture College in Srikakulam are expected to provide recommendations to the department on remedial measures soon.
Srikakulam Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar suggested the department send a detailed report on crop damage and remedial measures to the government after the enumeration is completed.
MARKFED Director Anepu Ramakrishna Naidu urged the Collector to recommend input subsidy for farmers, as most of them did not opt for crop insurance. Naidu emphasized that financial assistance would allow farmers to plant new crops in the rabi season and also requested the sanction of input subsidy for partially damaged crops.
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