Farmers said millions of coconut trees were reduced due to the disease in Coimbatore
Nowadays, coconut farmers in Koimbuter district of Tamil Nadu are very sad. He said that the trees were reduced to more than five thousand acres of coconut trees as the trees were suffering from Kerala Root Disease. In this disease, the roots of the trees are completely extinguished. Farmers say the disease is rapidly spreading and that many acres of coconut farms are rapidly infected. Earlier, many coconut trees were cut in Kerala and Bangalore.
Compensation for three lakh rupees
Farmers say that in the next two years, if the government does not take proper measures to prevent it, the situation will be serious. It is said that two lakh coconut trees can be cut in the next two years. Farmers are currently compensating the government for Rs 32,000 per acre and they say that compensation is not enough. He also said that it is difficult for him to get daily expenses for such an amount. According to them, cutting the trees have caused a large financial crisis in front of them. Farmers have demanded compensation of at least Rs.
Destruction is causing disease
Tamil Nadu is the second largest state in coconut production after Karnataka, with the founder of Tamil Virasegal Putu Sangam Sangam with the New Indian Express. In 29 districts, it is planted on about 12 lakh hectares of land, of which only 2.10 lakh acres are located in Coimbatore. According to them, after peanuts, the state grows more coconuts and plays a large role in oil production. Currently, Tamil Nadu has suffered the highest loss since 2019 due to the Kerala Wilt Disease. He said this was due to lack of preventive measures. For this reason, the disease has become uncontrolled and now most acres of destruction.
The disease ends in Kerala
He said the disease was successfully removed in Kerala when the disease came out of the state. But so far, the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department has not taken any action. According to them, for the past six years, the agricultural researchers of Tamil Nadu have been losing their time only in taking funds from the government, but they have not been able to find proper measures or treatment for prevention. Murugasamy claimed that its production had declined by 60 percent.
South India Joint Secretary of South India Coconut Producers Association said that the agriculture in Aliyar near Polachi is affected by the wilt disease. He said that after an infection occurred in the tree, the entire field would be destroyed at any time. To remove the affected trees in one acre, farmers should spend at least Rs 2 lakh to cut the trees and Rs 3 lakh for planting again. In such a situation, the current compensation is not sufficient.
Coconut is expensive
P Jayanath, a businessman who bought coconuts from farmers in Polachi, said that in 2023, the price was Rs 18-19 per kg. There is a huge decrease in yields due to disease. Usually we collect 2,000 coconuts per acre. Now it has come to 800 coconuts. Because of this, the price has increased to Rs.55 per kg. If the yield is decreasing, it will increase further. Experts are advised to give nutrients and organic medicines to strengthen the trees so that they can overcome the disease.
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