Banana farms destroyed, Madras Thorn trees uprooted by recent rain, gale in Virudhunagar district

Banana plantains and Madras Thorn trees destroyed by gale in Virudhunagar district, causing significant losses to farmers.

Banana plantains on over 23 hectares across Virudhunagar district have been destroyed by rain and strong gale in the last two weeks.

The gale that was reported in the second week of May has damaged the well-grown plantains in various blocks like Watrap, Sivakasi, Tiruchuli, Kariyapatti, Srivilliputtur, Sattur and Virudhunagar.

Most of the damaged plantains are in advanced stage of harvest.

A farmer M. Pandiselvam of Kundukulam in Kariyapatti taluk said hundreds of banana trees raised on one acre of land were uprooted and trunk twisted by a strong gale. Most of the trees had bunches of under-ripe fruits. “In another few weeks, the fruits would have become ripe and ready for harvest,” he said.

The farmer who used to sell leaves and fruits has suffered more than 50% loss in his farm as the trees have fallen. “The gale was so strong that the trunks of taller trees were broken after they were twisted,” he said, adding, the under-ripe fruits were not worthy even for cattle feed, he said.

In Chettipatti near here, farmers suffered loss of over 50 Madras Thorn (Kodukkaipuli) tress to the gale.

The trees were 10 to 20 years old and the annual harvest had just got over. “We had taken shelter under the motor room shed when heavy rain accompanied by strong wind struck our farm on May 10. But, within a few minutes, even the tin-roof of the shed was blown away,” said K. Karuppasamy (32).