The CPI(M) has demanded that the government immediately declare drought-affected areas and announce a comprehensive relief package for farmers, tenant farmers, agricultural workers and other rural communities.

A State-level team of the party has visited more than 60 mandals and 200 villages in 12 districts between September 16 and 24 to assess drought conditions.

Farmers reported severe crop losses, drying tanks, falling groundwater levels, drinking water shortages and acute fodder scarcity, the party leaders told the media in Vijayawada on Thursday.

They demanded that drought be declared a national calamity and ₹1 lakh crore released as relief. They demanded compensation of ₹40,000 an acre for farmers and tenant farmers who suffered crop losses and ₹15,000 an acre for farmers unable to sow. The party also sought input subsidy, crop insurance compensation, loan waivers and reimbursement of advance lease amounts paid by tenant farmers.

Farmers in Kurnool reported severe losses in cotton and onion, while those in Anantapur and Sri Sathya Sai districts said fruit orchards dried up because of falling groundwater levels. In Krishna and Bapatla districts, large areas of paddy remained uncultivated due to inadequate irrigation. Tribal farmers in Alluri Sitharama Raju district reported damage to paddy, coffee and pepper crops, the CPI(M) leaders.

They also demanded 100% subsidised seed for rabi crops, procurement of all crops at support prices, subsidised diesel and petrol for farmers using oil engines, and free fodder and feed for livestock.

They also sought employment for every rural family seeking work at ₹600 a day, implementation of an urban employment guarantee scheme, drinking water arrangements and supply of essential commodities through fair-price shops for a year to drought-affected poor families.

The CPIM leaders also urged the government to take immediate measures to prevent distress migration and support agricultural labourers, dairy farmers, artisans and other rural workers affected by the drought.

CPI(M) Central Committee members K. Lokanatham and D. Ramadevi, State Secretariat members B. Balaram, Moolam Ramesh, K. Prabhakara Reddy and V. Ramabhupal, and State leaders V. Krishnaiah, Dadala Subbarao, M. Haribabu, K. Anjaneyulu, V. Venkateswarlu, M. Suryanarayana and V. Sivanagarani were present.