BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu calls for agriculture emergency in Andhra Pradesh

Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu today demanded declaration of "agriculture emergency" in Andhra Pradesh, which was whipped by a cyclonic storm on December 7 devastating standing crops in 25 lakh acres in 13 districts.

"Let all government departments suspend their normal work for one month and concentrate on relief and rehabilitation of the affected agriculturists," he told media persons here after surveying the crops loss.

He also demanded that government should waive off interest on institutional crop loans, reschedule the repayment of the principal, provide fresh credit and pay an ex-gratia of Rs5000 per acre to the farmers.

Naidu attributed the misery of the farmers to inadequate and neglected drainage system which resulted into stagnation of rain water in the fields aggravating the damage to the standing crops.

"The Government should accord top priority to improve the drainage facility," he said.

The BJP leader said with regards to Andhra Pradesh's poor economic health, the Centre should generously help the state mitigate the hardship being faced by the farmers.