MALAPPURAM: With the monsoon continuing to wreak havoc after a short interval, the agriculture sector has suffered a loss of Rs 11 crore. As per the latest figures with the Agriculture Department, the rain has affected 3,288 farmers in the district while heavy rain left crops in more than 729 hectares damaged.
Various crops, including coconut, banana, pepper, betel, rubber, paddy and tapioca, were damaged. Banana growers are the worst hit followed by coconut farmers. As per figures with the department, 3,39,919 banana plants were damaged while the rain caused damages to 1,24,3,89 saplings.
A total of 1,480 coconut trees along with 5,7,73 arecanut trees were also damaged. Rain caused damage in 196.5 hectares of paddy.
Agriculture Department officers are assessing losses from various parts of the city and a detailed report will be submitted to the directorate of agriculture and the District Collector soon. The district will seek financial assistance from the state and Union governments to compensate farmers.
In the past three days, rain wrecked ten houses in the district. So far, 127 houses have been partly damaged. Disaster management officers have sought further reports of losses from Revenue Department officers across the district.
With rain continuing to lash the district, a minor landslide was reported at Erumamunda near Nilambur on Wednesday morning.
Agricultural loss was widely reported at Nilambur municipality along with Vazhakkad, Vazhyur, Areekode and Cheekkode panchayats after the Chaliyar River overflowed. Vehicular movement was affected at Nilambur town following water logging.
Holiday for edu institutions