Over 2.5 lakh banana trees damaged in Coimbatore due to heavy winds, rain

Coimbatore: Heavy rain accompanied by strong gusty winds over the past two days have uprooted and damaged more than 2.5 lakh banana trees in suburban parts of Coimbatore district, particularly in Mettupalayam, Sirumugai, Annur and Karumathampatti.Farmers have appealed to the state government to enhance compensation, stating that the existing relief measures are inadequate to cover the scale of losses incurred. Large stretches of cultivated land witnessed banana trees being uprooted and flattened due to strong winds, leading to near-total crop loss in several areas. K Rangasamy, a banana farmer from Kariampalayam in Annur block, said over 50,000 banana trees, including Kathali, Nendran and Red banana varieties, were damaged across several villages. Recalling a similar incident last year, he said around 1,000 trees in 1.5 acres were lost, causing a ₹1.5 lakh loss, but he received only ₹6,800 as compensation after a year. He added that crop insurance schemes do not cover cyclonic wind damage effectively. "I have been pushed back by five years financially," he said, noting that Tamil Nadu offers just ₹1–₹3 per tree, far lower than Kerala's ₹100–₹115. In Karumathampatti, over 25,000 banana trees were damaged by cyclonic winds in Kaniyur and Unjampalayam, said M Sureshkumar. He noted that while sapling costs around ₹200, compensation is just ₹1–₹3 per tree. He demanded ₹250–₹300 per tree, alleging farmers are denied adequate relief. V Ganeshkumar of Kemmarampalayam said banana cultivation spans over 12,000 acres from Velliyangadu to Sathyamangalam, but cyclonic winds have damaged Nendran, Red Banana and Kathali crops at all stages, with Sirumugai worst affected. He said recurring losses have forced him to skip cultivation this year, adding that current compensation is insufficient even to clear fallen trees. "At least ₹250 per tree is needed to offset losses," he said. N Sathyanarayan, Mettupalayam coordinator of the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, said repeated appeals by farmers to increase compensation for banana crops during grievance redressal meetings have yielded no results. He termed existing relief inadequate and criticised crop insurance schemes as impractical. He added that only large landholders can sustain farming, while small farmers continue due to lack of alternative income.