Aftermath of Flood in Kerala is far-reaching, and its impact on agriculture is devastating. Kerala with its agriculture mainly focused on plantation sector has estimated the loss of 500 hectares of rubber. The United Planters' Association of Southern India has estimated the crop loss in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with rubber having the highest loss followed by Coffee, Pepper, and Cardamom.
“The level of devastation varies. But all the plantation crops in the flood-affected areas have taken a hit. It will take about two years for the sector to come out of this,” says Nishant Gurjer, Chairman, spices committee, UPASI and a large-scale spices cultivator.
The major concern among the planters is the the way to revive the plantation affected by flood. It will take minimum of 2 years to get back to normalcy. It also requires financial help from the government and also policies encouraging domestic production. This loss is the largest faced by Natural Calamity in this sector and the sector is looking forward for ways to come out of the challenge.
