Kollam: The scorching summer heat which followed the devastating floods has destroyed crops worth over 82 lakhs here in the district. Plantain cultivation took the most damage followed by paddy, vegetables and rubber. Punaloor taluk was the worst affected.
The farmers took another hit in the summer as they were only beginning to recover from the devastation caused by the floods. Loss caused by strong winds that accompanied the summer rains are yet to be calculated.
The agriculture department has roughly estimated that crops worth Rs 82,77,950 has been damaged from February to April. In this, plantain trees amounted to Rs 51,90,000 rupees. A total of 19,250 plantain trees were destroyed after bearing fruit. They were estimated to be worth Rs 42,35,000. AS many as 9550 plantain trees which were yet to bear fruit were also destroyed, leading to a loss of Rs 9,55,000. Vegetables grown in 12 hectares of land, estimated to be worth Rs 3,10,000 were also damaged.
Paddy in over 62 hectares was destroyed due to lack of water and it lead to a loss of Rs 24,80,000. Damages of 25 rubber trees and 1300 pepper plants induced a loss of Rs 18,750 and Rs 19,200 respectively.
A report on the damages has been submitted to the government. Since the union government has stopped financial aid to farmers who lost their crops, the losses will be added in the agricultural damage section and compensation given by the state will only be provided to the farmers. If the crops are insured, the farmers will get benefits in that regard as well.
The compensation will be given in the following order: Plantain trees bearing fruit: 300, plantain trees which did not bear fruit: 150, vegetables that are of creeper variety Rs 40,000 (per hectare), other types of vegetables RS 25,000 (per hectare), black pepper Rs 200 per plant, rubber: Rs 1000 per tree, betel leaves: RS 1000 per cent of land.
Rs 15,000/hectare will be paid as insurance for paddy that is 45 days old or less. After 45 days, paddy will be given insurance amount of Rs 35,000/hectare.
