Drought damages 84,656 hectares of Karnataka’s coconut plantations; effects may continue up to three years

The useful part

Your active subscription(s) Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. According to the officials of the Department of Horticulture, among all horticultural crops that have surveyed in past months, coconut has recorded the highest crop loss, followed by onion and other vegetables. They said that the impact of this drought would remain for the next three years.

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• It recorded that ₹59,259 lakh worth coconut crop cultivated on 84,656 hectares out of 5.6 lakh hectares has been impacted.
• Whether the drought lasts one year or longer, its impact on the crop is long-term, as the dry spell disrupts the tree's development cycle, including flowering and fruiting, which can span up to 36 months.
• Ahmed said that the impact will be on farmers, farm labourers seeking jobs, price fluctuations and a large economic impact on the State's finances.

What to take from it

I was happy this year because I thought I would receive a good yield after three years, but drought has once again caused misery." He added, "White fly, also known as Rugose Spiraling Whitefly, is causing destruction on the plantation especially in Tumakuru. "Karnataka, which has around 5.6 lakh hectares under coconut cultivation, is second only to Kerala's 7 lakh hectares. Unlike Kerala and Tamil Nadu, much of Karnataka's coconut is grown in dry zones.

Example or evidence

• Since all such trees were cut down, the fly has found a new host which is the coconut tree." Published.
• Narayan Gowda, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, studied coconut plantations in taluks across Mandya, Tumakuru and other districts.
• "Drought is worsening pests such as black-headed caterpillar, Rugose Spiralling Whitefly and Kappu Masi disease.
• I have submitted recommendations to the government to help farmers control them.

Details worth keeping

LOGOUT You don't have any Active Subscription. A senior official who spoke to The Hindu said, "As per the instructions of the government, survey was conducted jointly by the departments, including horticulture, revenue, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Authority and others, in 124 taluks that are listed in the severely drought-affected category. Department of Horticulture Hassan worst affected The official said, "For now, Haasan district is the worst affected as it is the hub of coconut cultivation after Tumakuru, Mandya, Chitradurga, coastal Karnataka and some parts of Malnad region.

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