Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (RD/MB)

Sullia, Oct 18: As a result of incessant off-season rains and and also pest attack, 37,951 quintals of areca has been destroyed across the taluk, reported the survey team assigned by Union government and led by plantations department that held the survey across the taluk on Wednesday October 17.

The department has arrived at the figures on the basis of the petitions collected from the agriculturists by Bharatiya Kissan Sangh and submitted to the department and those applications submitted by the farmers to the department direct. Bharatiya Kissan Sangh has collected 1,361 petitions, stating that 86,302 areca plants, 407 coconut trees, 1,200 plantains were destroyed.  Out of 1498.29 hectares 11,365.94 quintals of areca crop has been damaged.  According to the petitions submitted to the department direct, out of 1170.45 hectares, 26,585 quintals of areca yield has been damaged.  Altogether out of a total of 2,668.74 hectares 37,951.59 quintals of areca crop has been damaged, as it was explained in their report.

The survey team has submitted the report to its higher officers, urging them to sanction appropriate compensation in this regard.  Moreover, a few more agriculturists who have borrowed agricultural loans from commercial banks and co-operative banks have submitted their petitions to the respective financial institutions.  Accordingly, senior assistant plantations officer Venkatesh stated that action will be taken after the receipt of their report.