Former minister Kodela Siva Prasad on Monday demanded that the state government immediately declare an "agriculture emergency" in AP, since 700 mandals in 15 districts across the state are facing a drought-like situation.
He said that the TDP came to this conclusion after a delegation of party members inspected crops in various districts from 21-23 Oct.
Talking to media persons after emerging out of a meeting at the party headquarters with party president N Chandrababu Naidu, during which farmers' problems were discussed, Kodela slammed the CM for not responding to farmers' woes despite the Congress party claiming that the government was committed towards their welfare.
He demanded that the state government allot special funds to help farmers, and to mount pressure on the Centre to get additional funds to tackle the situation.
Kodela said that the government must declare drought in all the 700 mandals and study the condition of the farmers there.
The study would help assist the farmers and improve their financial condition, he said. (INN)