Alappuzha farmers incur crop loss of ₹33.68 lakh in two months

Natural calamities have caused crop loss to the tune of ₹33.68 lakh over the past two months in Alappuzha.

According to the Agriculture department, crops on 162.27 hectares (ha) were destroyed between April 1 and June 9. A total of 2,270 farmers suffered losses, mostly due to rain. Paddy cultivation on 153.78 ha was hit the hardest, affecting 445 farmers. The estimated loss from paddy alone stands at ₹26.08 lakh.

Likewise, banana cultivation on 2.73 ha was affected. Officials said that 6,284 plantains belonging to 675 farmers were destroyed, resulting in a loss of ₹6 lakh. Other major crops affected included betelvine (estimated loss ₹30,700) nutmeg (₹28,900), tapioca (₹27,900), sesamum (₹15,200) and coconut (₹13,400), among others. Besides, 34 outer bunds of 25 paddy polders were breached during the last week of May in the Kuttanad and upper Kuttanad regions.

Among blocks, Ramankary suffered the most crop damage with the loss pegged at ₹8.9 lakh, followed by Mavelikara (₹7.28 lakh), Haripad (₹7.18 lakh) and Chengannur (₹4.66 lakh). Farmers have been urged to apply for compensation within 10 days of incurring crop loss.

Paddy procurement

Meanwhile, the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) procured 1.07 lakh tonnes of paddy from farmers in Alappuzha as the puncha crop season (crop II) concluded. The agency procured paddy worth ₹299 crore from farmers who cultivated it on 26,703.8 hectares, a major portion of which was in Kuttanad.

Supplyco purchased paddy at ₹28.20 a kg, which includes the minimum support price of ₹23 provided by the Union government and ₹5.20 provided as incentive bonus by the State government. So far, the agency has issued pay orders to the tune of ₹95.02 crore to banks for disbursing procurement price to farmers.

Fifty-three mills were involved in paddy procurement in the puncha season, which witnesses the most extensive acreage of paddy cultivation in the region. Earlier, procurement in several parts of Kuttanad and Upper Kuttanad was marred by issues after mill agents demanded huge discounts, in some cases up to 15 kg a quintal, to procure harvested paddy, citing discolouration, shrivelled grains, high chaff content and moisture levels.

Published - June 11, 2025 06:45 pm IST