AMARAVATI: The Andhra Pradesh government has announced compensation for farmers who suffered heavy crop losses due to Cyclone Arnab, with assistance ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹75,000 per acre depending on the crop. Heavy rain and strong winds damaged standing crops that were ready for harvest across the state.
Under the announced scheme, farmers growing cotton, wheat and sugarcane will receive ₹25,000 per acre, while paddy growers will be given ₹20,000 per acre. Cultivators of pearl millet (bajra), black gram, green gram, maize, finger millet (ragi), Bengal gram, soybean and sunflower will get ₹15,000 per acre. Horticulture crops attract higher compensation: banana, turmeric, mango, cashew, coffee and dragon fruit growers will receive ₹35,000 per acre, and those cultivating vegetables, papaya, tomato and pineapple will get ₹25,000 per acre. Betel leaf plantations, which carry the highest rate, will be compensated at ₹75,000 per acre. For coconut and oil palm, assistance will be provided at ₹1,500 per tree.
Alongside the compensation, the government has urged farmers to take precautionary steps to prevent further losses as the cyclone’s effects continue. Officials advised that crops ready for harvest, including paddy, cotton, maize, groundnut, black gram and green gram, be moved to safe locations as soon as possible, and that harvested grain be covered with tarpaulins to keep it dry. Farmers have also been asked to provide support to banana and papaya plants and to dig drainage channels in vegetable fields to prevent waterlogging. Coconut, oil palm and mango orchards should be safeguarded against strong winds, officials said.
Once the cyclone’s impact subsides, officials will assess the damage to crops and orchards village by village. Affected farmers have been advised to preserve photographs and other documentation of their losses to support their claims.
Separately, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced a relief package for families affected by the cyclone. Each affected family will be provided 1 kg each of onions, sugar and potatoes free of cost, and households where water entered homes will receive 25 kg of rice. The government will pay ₹5 lakh to the families of those who died, ₹10,000 for partially damaged houses and ₹25,000 for damaged shops. Compensation of ₹3,000 will be given for damaged two-wheelers and ₹10,000 for three-wheelers. In addition, each person who took shelter in relief camps will receive ₹1,000 as special assistance.