A recent survey conducted in Erode, India, covering Bhavanisagar, Sathyamangalam, and Thalavadi blocks, has documented significant damage to banana cultivation due to inclement weather conditions from May 1 to 4. The survey, concluding on Tuesday, identified that 186,000 banana trees across 32 villages have been adversely affected, impacting 187 farmers. Notably, Bhavanisagar block experienced the severest damage on May 4, with 94,000 banana trees damaged, marking the worst incident in a decade. The affected farmers are advocating for the government to provide adequate compensation for their losses.
Light rain and gale winds during the specified period have been cited as the primary causes of the damage. The Horticulture and Plantation Crops Department, utilizing the survey data, reported that the total area of damaged banana cultivation spans 67.2 hectares. AN Asaithambi, representing the farming community, emphasized the urgency of compensation, considering the majority of the damaged trees were nearing harvest. He also proposed the introduction of an individual crop insurance scheme for banana cultivation, urging both central and state governments to take necessary actions. The density of banana tree cultivation typically ranges from 900 to 1,000 trees per acre, underlining the scale of potential losses.
Source: newindianexpress.com