Farms flattened as winds lash Ernakulam, crop loss at 1.38cr

Kochi: Pre-monsoon rains and strong winds that lashed Ernakulam on April 19 caused widespread agricultural damage across the district, with plantains bearing the brunt of the destruction.According to the first information report, 1.79 lakh plantain plants with fruits and 77,320 plantain plants without fruits were damaged, with crops standing on 148 hectares affected — translating to a loss of Rs 1.38 crore. Arecanut, nutmeg, tapioca, and paddy crops also suffered extensive damage. The winds felled 1,196 bearing and 383 non-bearing arecanut palms, while tapioca cultivated on 11.71 hectares and paddy on 1.4 hectares were also affected. Additionally, 3,381 fruit-bearing nutmeg trees and 1,505 non-bearing ones were damaged. Agriculture department officials said rural areas were the worst hit. In places like Nedumbassery, thousands of plantains on single farmlands collapsed under the force of the winds. "Instead of wooden logs to support plantains, farmers use a single rope to hold many plants together. When strong winds strike, they fall one by one," an official explained, adding that actual damage figures may be revised after field verification. The losses are especially painful as farmers had been cultivating crops in anticipation of the Onam festival season, when demand and prices typically surge. While the govt will provide compensation, officials noted that solatium for uninsured crops would be minimal — leaving many farmers with little relief despite their significant losses.