Adverse weather causes massive crop loss in Ernakulam

Substantial areas of banana and tapioca plantations lost due to heavy wind and rain

Extreme weather conditions, mostly heavy winds and almost incessant rain between August and October this year, have resulted in massive crop loss in the district. Substantial areas of banana and tapioca plantations have been lost either to heavy winds or flooding.

Agriculture Department sources said that banana plants easily succumb to winds while tapioca is vulnerable to flooding of fields. Both these natural phenomena have been continuously witnessed in taluks like Muvattupuzha and Kothamangalam.

While preparations for rice cultivation in the ensuing season have been disrupted seriously because of heavy rain, there has also been loss of vegetable crops due to heavy downpour throughout the district. Sources pointed out that the winter season paddy cultivation is more extensive in Ernakulam district than the first season paddy cultivation. Heavy rain has been a stumbling block to field preparations for the new season.