Agriculture Department says 13,000 acres of Srikakulam paddy ruined by floods

The state’s Agriculture Department confirmed that floods have damaged roughly 13,000 acres of standing paddy in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. Joint Director of Agriculture V. Raghava Rao told reporters that prolonged waterlogging has caused the crops to turn black, a sign of severe stress that could jeopardise the upcoming harvest.

According to The Hindu, Rao explained that the inundation began after unusually heavy monsoon showers hit the coastal belt in early September. As water levels rose, the fields could not drain, leaving the rice plants submerged for days. "When water does not recede, the standing paddy loses its green colour and turns black, indicating that the plants are dying," he said. The department plans to deploy drones to spray essential nutrients and micronutrients as soon as the water recedes, aiming to revive any surviving plants.

Andhra Pradesh is one of India’s leading rice‑producing states, and the monsoon season typically brings both boon and risk. In recent years, climate‑related extremes have intensified, with back‑to‑back heavy rains causing flash floods across the eastern coastline. Such events often lead to water‑logged fields, loss of sowing windows, and reduced yields. The 2023 monsoon, in particular, has been marked by above‑average rainfall, prompting concerns among agronomists about crop resilience and food‑grain security.

In response, the state government has mobilised emergency measures beyond drone spraying. Officials are coordinating with the District Collector’s office to assess damage, expedite compensation for affected farmers, and provide additional irrigation support where possible. The Agriculture Department’s use of drones reflects a broader push toward technology‑driven interventions, aiming to deliver inputs quickly and uniformly over large, inaccessible areas.

The loss of 13,000 acres could translate into a substantial reduction in the district’s rice output, affecting both local markets and the broader supply chain. Farmers, many of whom depend on a single cropping season for their livelihood, face uncertainty about income and food security. Continued monitoring of water levels and timely implementation of remedial measures will be crucial to mitigate further losses before the next planting cycle begins.