Government extends support to banana farmers who attempted to end life following crop loss

A view of damaged banana crop. photo used for representational purpose
| Photo Credit: G N RAO

The State government has assured all possible support to the two banana farmers from Nirjampalli village in Yellanur mandal of the district who have made an attempt to end their lives distressed over the loss of their crop due to the unseasonal rains and hailstorms that hit parts of Rayalaseema on Saturday (March 22) late night.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday (March 23) reviewed the situation arising out of the hailstorm and asked the Anantapur district administration to monitor the health condition of the two farmers undergoing treatment at the Government General Hospital.

Joint Collector Shiv Narayan Sharma visited the GGH on Sunday night and enquired about the health condition of the farmers — 58-year-old G Lakshminarayana and 55-year-old Anke Chinna Vengappa — who have suffered crop loss. According to the officials, Mr. Lakshminarayana lost 4,500 banana plants in his 2.96 acre land while Mr. Vengappa lost 5,600 plants in his 4.18 acre land. Both of them consumed pesticide and were initially shifted to a government hospital at Pulivendula in Kadapa district and from there to GGH, Anantapur for better treatment.

Mr. Shiv Narayan Sharma assured all possible support from the government to the ailing farmers and said the insurance companies were already informed about the crop loss. “The department concerned will complete the crop loss enumeration in two days,” the JC said.