Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Thursday, Nov 03, 2005
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Thursday, Nov 03, 2005 |
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Agri-Biz & Commodities
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Horticulture/Fruits & Vegetables Banana growers worried over outbreak of fungal diseases L.N. Revathy
Coimbatore , Nov. 2 WATER-logging and floods are unlikely to affect the banana crop, particularly in the Tiruchi belt. According to the scientific community, the damage has been limited, at least as far as the banana crop is concerned. "It was water-logged. Now, the water has receded, and in a few places, the growers have drained out the water," Dr Sathiamoorthy, Director, National Research Centre for Banana, said. Different varieties of banana are grown on about 7,000 acres in Tiruchi taluk alone. According to Dr Sathiamoorthy, the crop had by and large reached an advanced stage. "There should be no cause for concern as the water-logging will not affect the yield, provided we have enough sunlight. Canals are used for draining out the excess water from the fields," he added. The General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Banana Growers' Federation, Mr G. Ajeethan, however, expressed concern over the likelihood of outbreak of fungal diseases following the floods. "The outbreak is generally seen after incessant rains. Now, we have to wait and see as the crop is in the vegetative stage and the outbreak of any disease at this stage could have an adverse impact on the yield and quality of the fruit," he told Business Line. "Considering the vast area under banana, it should be categorised as a `notified' crop in all districts. It is a notified crop in Tiruchi district, but not in other districts. The National Agricultural Insurance Scheme is available only for notified crops and, under the scheme, the grower is eligible for yield loss compensation, which other general insurance schemes do not provide," Mr Ajeethan said. The lack of awareness about such a scheme has left farmers high and dry in the State. Whereas, it has taken off very well in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, he said, and stressed the need for spreading awareness about the scheme. "Nabard and the lead bank in the district can present the case and notify the crop," he added. The prices of banana are expected to decline with the commencement of the arrival season. It is currently ruling at Rs 3,500 a tonne. The Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, Mr S. Ranganathan, said the delta farmers in the Thiruvaiyaru, Anbil and Sethiyar Thoppu belt were well `protected' from the flooding of the river basin. Paddy is the main crop in the Thanjavur region. According to Mr Ranganathan, the sowing season was delayed but the present crop is progressing well. He, however, expressed concern over sand quarrying, which tended to have an adverse impact on the groundwater table and the falling level of the riverbed. "Even when the inflow into the river is very heavy, the water does not overflow into the fields because the river level has deepened." He voiced the need for some alternative to sand to protect the riverbed.
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