A total of 295 hectares of mostly vegetable and banana cultivation in the district have been affected by the rains, according to an initial estimate made by the Department of Agriculture. Department sources said of the 295 hectares, around 83 hectares of banana cultivation had been affected. The estimated losses due to the rains is around ₹7.58 crore.
Banana cultivation was the worst affected, sources said. Vegetable cultivation in 10 hectares have also been affected by the rain and subsequent flooding of the farmed area. Moovattupuzha, Koothattukulam, Kothamangalam and Piravom were some of the more seriously affected areas in the district, though losses had been reported from all over, said sources.
According to estimates, nearly fifty lakh bunched banana plants and another five lakh non-bunched plants have been lost in incidents related to the present bout of heavy rain.
Sources, however, said the present round of rain may not largely affect the cultivation of vegetables and bananas for the coming Onam season, during which time the demand for vegetables peak in the State. Waterlogging had caused some problems in the western parts of the district, while in the eastern belt heavy winds had played havoc with banana cultivation, said a Department official.