In just 19 days, heavy rains have devastated 14,273 hectares of crops across the state, resulting in a staggering loss of Rs 78.92 crore. According to a preliminary estimate by the Department of Agriculture, this calamity has impacted around 31,635 farmers from July 1 to July 19. The damage has been particularly severe for paddy cultivation and vegetables meant for the Onam market, with 437.31 hectares of paddy and 111 hectares of paddy seedlings being destroyed. This has affected 1,850 farmers, leading to financial losses amounting to Rs 822 lakh.
Additionally, trellis farming over 1,464 hectares, including crops like bitter gourd and snake gourd, has been heavily impacted, affecting 1,119 farmers. Vegetable crops spread across 139 hectares, including tomatoes, ladies’ fingers, and eggplants, have also suffered, impacting 1,286 farmers and resulting in losses worth Rs 713 lakh. The adverse weather has further damaged crops such as cardamom, flowering and non-flowering banana plants, tapping rubber, black pepper, and cassava, exacerbating the financial strain on the affected farmers.
