Thiruvananthapuram: The unprecedented summer showers and strong winds that lashed Kerala over the last few days have caused extensive damage to crops across the State.
Data from the Agricultural department reveals that crops on 11,109.25 hectares were damaged in the past 11 days, leading to losses worth Rs 261.190 crore. As per officials, as many as 52,361 farmers have been affected.
“The severest of losses was reported from Alappuzha, and the least from Idukki. Crops meant for harvesting during the Onam, including banana, betel leaves and vegetables, were completely destroyed. Crops such as coconut, pineapple, tapioca, rubber, areca, pepper and some winter vegetables were also damaged,” said an official.
No aid yet for farmers
Incidentally, the state government is facing a shortage of funds to pay compensation for farmers who suffered crop loss. In fact, an amount of Rs 10 crore to be distributed among farmers under the Central and State crop insurance schemes is now pending.
Minister’s intervention
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister P Prasad held a meeting with officials on Monday to discuss options of providing emergency aid for farmers who lost their crops.
Subsequently, it was decided to request the Finance department to sanction money for the purpose.
“We will change clauses of the insurance scheme to ensure immediate payment in the event of crop loss,” said the minister.
Referring to the suicide of a farmer at Niranam, near Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta, after his crop was damaged in rain, Prasad said that the incident was unfortunate. “We have ordered an inquiry into the incident. The government is firm on protecting farmers,” he said.
Over the past 11 days, crops on 316.03 hectares were damaged in Pathanamthitta alone, causing a loss of Rs 5.80 crore.
25 farmer suicides in five years
As per the National Crime Records Bureau statistics, 25 farmers took their own lives in Kerala between 2015 and 2020. While the highest number of suicides – 11 – was reported from Idukki district, 10 farmers killed themselves in Wayanad, two in Kannur and one each in Kasaragod and Ernakulam.
Of the 25 deaths, 12 took place in 2019 after the flood that year. Moreover, several farmers who had lost their crops in the flood of 2018 had their properties attached over defaulting of loans.
Incidentally, one of the main achievements highlighted during the first couple of years by the first Pinarayi Vijayan Government, which came to power in 2016, was the absence of farmer suicides in Kerala.
Losses in districts
The crop damage during the last 11 days in each district, in the order of district, area affected, number of farmers who lost crops, and estimated monetary loss, is as follows:
