Thanjavur, Sept 8:
Sudden rain accompanied by strong winds destroyed banana plantations spread across nearly 50 acres in villages around Tiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district, leaving farmers facing heavy losses just weeks before the harvest.
The damage was reported in Sathanur, Vadugakudi, Achanur, Valappakudi and adjoining villages after strong winds and rain lashed the area for more than an hour on Sunday evening.
Farmers said more than 50,000 banana plants were either uprooted or severely damaged in the storm. Several of the plantations were expected to be ready for harvest within the next 30 days, with farmers hoping to benefit from the upcoming Ayudha Pooja season.
The sudden weather event also affected local infrastructure. Several electricity poles were uprooted and power lines snapped, while traffic was disrupted on Valappakudi Main Road during the night.
The affected farmers said they had invested up to Rs 1 lakh per acre on cultivation. They will now have to spend another Rs 5,000 or more per acre to remove the damaged plants and clear the fields.
Farmers were seen on Monday removing whatever bananas could be salvaged from the damaged plantations. However, they said a major portion of the crop had been destroyed beyond recovery.
The farmers have urged the district administration to immediately send officials to the affected villages to assess the extent of crop damage and recommend appropriate compensation.
They also appealed to the government to provide emergency assistance to affected cultivators, pointing out that the destruction came at a critical stage when the crop was nearing harvest.