Cyclone Montha: standing crops over 43,000 hectares inundated in A.P.

Cyclone Montha has inflicted extensive damage on agriculture across Andhra Pradesh, with the preliminary assessment by the Agriculture Department revealing that over 43,000 hectares of crops have been submerged, affecting nearly 83,000 farmers across 292 mandals and 1,712 villages.

Preliminary estimates paint a grim picture of widespread crop damage in the coastal and adjoining districts.

According to the department’s data, paddy and cotton are the worst hit, together accounting for more than 80% of the total damaged area.

Paddy fields in 31,267 hectares were inundated, while cotton crops over 15,680 hectares suffered extensive damage due to continuous rainfall and flooding.

Among the districts, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema reported the highest crop damage with 10,099 hectares being submerged, followed by Prakasam (8,299 ha), Y.S.R. Kadapa (3,767 ha), East Godavari (3,195 ha), and Bapatla (2,928 ha).

Other coastal districts including West Godavari, Kakinada, and Eluru also registered significant crop damage. The data indicate that low-lying areas and paddy-growing belts along the coast are the worst hit due to incessant rainfall and flooding triggered by the cyclone.

In addition to paddy and cotton, maize over 4,393 hectares and blackgram across 3,004 hectares were damaged, while smaller extents of bajra, redgram, and soybean suffered partial losses. The report noted that 53 hectares of crop nurseries were affected in several regions, compounding the impact on farmers’ livelihoods.

Officials said that enumeration teams were conducting detailed field assessments to ascertain the full extent of damage. The government is expected to initiate compensation and rehabilitation measures once the final report is consolidated.