Agriculture news

Unseasonal rainfall and gusty winds damaged agricultural crops across North Andhra Pradesh, with Srikakulam among the districts affected by thunderstorms and changing weather conditions. Standing mango, cashew, maize and banana crops suffered damage in several areas. Reports estimated that around 800 to 1,000 acres of crops were affected across North Andhra.

The Uddanam region of Srikakulam is experiencing a major decline in local coconut production. The area was once known as the Konaseema of North Andhra because of its extensive coconut plantations. Cyclone Titli reportedly damaged around five lakh coconut trees spread across 45,000 acres in 2018. Newly planted trees have not yet produced the expected level of yield, and average production reportedly declined from around 1,000–1,200 coconuts to 400–500.

Grade-one cashew prices in Srikakulam reportedly reached approximately ₹900 per kilogram, with prices increasing by around ₹30 to ₹40 across different grades within two weeks. Higher demand during marriages, Ramzan and Holi contributed to the increase. The Palasa cashew-processing industry was depending heavily on imported raw cashew nuts from countries such as Tanzania, Mozambique, Ghana and Ivory Coast.

The Andhra Pradesh government announced the first instalment of Annadata Sukhibhava assistance for 2026–27, allocating around ₹3,125.47 crore to eligible farming families across the state. Eligible farmers in Srikakulam district are also covered under the programme. Each eligible family was scheduled to receive ₹7,000 in the first instalment, including ₹5,000 from the state government and ₹2,000 under PM-Kisan.

The government has made the APAIMS application mandatory for urea and DAP fertiliser sales across most districts of Andhra Pradesh. Eligible Srikakulam farmers will receive fertiliser allocations through the online platform and can select their preferred authorised fertiliser retailer. Retail dealers are being connected with Rythu Seva Kendras to ensure smoother distribution. The programme is designed to prevent fertiliser diversion, misuse and black-market sales.

Farmers in Srikakulam are adopting water-saving methods because of concerns over weak monsoon rainfall. Direct Seeded Rice is being promoted as an alternative to traditional paddy transplantation. Under this method, seeds are sown directly in the field without preparing a separate nursery, reducing the need to keep agricultural fields continuously flooded. Alternate Wetting and Drying is also being introduced to improve irrigation efficiency. These methods can reduce water consumption and lower labour expenses for farmers.

The Andhra Pradesh government has started supplying subsidised seeds to farmers in Srikakulam district. Farmers are being given a subsidy of ₹10 for every kilogram of paddy seed purchased, while Scheduled Tribe farmers are eligible for a special subsidy of up to 90 per cent. Officials said approximately 31,058 quintals of paddy seed were available in the district, which is expected to prevent seed shortages during the Kharif cultivation season.