Kochi: Widespread damage to crops has been reported from many places in the district in the last couple of days with the summer rain intensifying. Several acres of plantain trees at Paravur, Aluva, Chengamanad, Veliya-thunadu and Athani were destroyed apart from vegetables and arecanut palms in various places.
As per preliminary reports from the agriculture department, nearly 10,000 plantain trees were destroyed in these areas. Farmers at Karumaloor, Alangad and Veliyathu-nadu are the worst hit.
The agriculture department officials visited the areas to assess the damage.
Banana cultivators in the district had suffered huge losses last summer also due to the disease of plantains. Farmers alleged that they are yet to get any financial assistance from the government for last year’s losses.
“We have taken bank loans for replanting the trees and the unexpected summer rains have shattered our dreams,” said P. Joseph, a farmer.
Meanwhile, the Chinese nets in the backwaters along the coastal regions of Pallipuram and Cherayi were also damaged in heavy winds and rain leaving several fishermen in crisis. Various places in the district have been experiencing widespread rainfall over the last few days.
