Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts have faced several natural calamities, causing untold miseries to farmers and labourers. Srikakulam’s Uddanam region, which was devastated by cyclone Titli on October 10 this year, has been facing continuous dry spell for the last 45 days. Paddy cultivation in current rabi season is being affected in more than 2.5 lakh acres. Other crops such as maize, sugarcane have also been hit.

While coconut and cashew groves on 4.95 lakh acres in the district perished in Cyclone Titli, the remaining have been affected by the dryspell.

Srikakulam district Agriculture department’s in-charge Joint Director P.D.V. Ratnakumar told The Hindu that water levels had come down in almost all reservoirs, barring Madduvalasa, owing to the continuous dry spell. "The dry spell will have an impact on groundwater too. Absence of required moisture for crops during rabi is a major concern. We brought the issue to the notice of the government," he said.

CPI Srikakulam district secretary Sanapala Narasimhulu urged government to announce input subsidy to the farmers since a major portion of the crops was not covered under crop insurance.

The situation in Vizianagaram district is worrisome with 17 of 34 mandals hit by drought. The district recorded only 608 mm rainfall as against the normal 1,000 mm between June and November 2018. Almost all the reservoirs, including Thotapalli and Tatipudi, have dried up with scanty rain in the last six months.

Farmers have been agitating for the release of water available in Tatipudi reservoir. However, irrigation officials said it was not possible to do so with the commitment to supply water for industrial needs of Visakhapatnam district. The government estimated that the paddy crop was damaged in almost 90 lakh acres of 1.98 lakh acres in the district.

The Opposition parties have sought immediate relief to farmers in 34 mandals. "Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu should announce all the 17 mandals as drought hit, so that the farmers could get input subsidy," said Bugata Ashok, CPI-Vizianagaram district assistant secretary.

YSRCP political coordinator Majji Srinivasa Rao, Lok Satta Party State president Bhisetti Babji and others alleged that the district administration failed to instil confidence among the farmers. "Many farmers will migrate to other places and become labourers. More work should be provided for local labourers under the NREGA programme," said Mr. Babji.

Minister for Mines Sujay Krishna Ranga Rao said a detailed report had been submitted to the government for taking up relief measures. He said that all the eligible farmers would get input subsidy once those areas were declared as drought hit areas.