Fungal disease cripples arecanut farming

Mangalore, Sep 4 (UNI) The arecanut growers in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts have suffered a loss of over Rs 250 crore due to an unprecedented disease in farms, South Kanara District Central Cooperative (SKDCC) Bank President M N Rajendrakumar said today.

Speaking to reporters here, he said the farmers were in distress due to heavy loss suffered following an unprecedented fungal disease that broke out in the arecanut farms in the two districts.

Mr Rajendrakumar said the disease was so rampant that over 70 per cent crop in the two districts was destroyed.

He alleged that both the Union and State Governments would be appealed to announce a compensation package to the affected.

He said in Udupi district a total of 7,200 tonnes of arecanut was destroyed due to the disease incurring a financial loss of over Rs 54.84 crore, while the growers in Dakshina Kannada lost 25,066 tonnes of crop worth over Rs 194.85 crore.

The District-Cooperative Central Bank would take a lead in appraising both the Centre and State Governments on the seriousness of the problem and the need for coming to the rescue of the growers.

The Bank has distributed over Rs 204.68 crore to the arecanut farmers in the district.

UNI