Chennai, May 14 (NationPress) A significant outbreak of Kerala Root Wilt Disease has plunged coconut farmers in Tamil Nadu’s (TN) Coimbatore district into a severe crisis, with close to 28 lakh trees across 40,000 acres facing the threat of being felled. The distressed farmers are urgently appealing for assistance from the state government as they confront substantial financial losses.

The disease, triggered by a phytoplasma infection, has been rapidly spreading since 2019.

With no viable treatment available, farmers are left with no choice but to cut down the infected trees.

While Kerala has reportedly managed to contain the disease through coordinated efforts, Tamil Nadu’s horticulture department has faced criticism for its lack of effective control measures.

"This disease was eradicated in Kerala, but here in Tamil Nadu, the authorities have not taken any serious initiative. The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University researchers have only drawn funding for six years without delivering concrete solutions," expressed M. Saravanan, a coconut farmer from Coimbatore.

Tamil Nadu ranks second in coconut cultivation area in India, following Karnataka, encompassing approximately 12 lakh acres across 29 districts.

Coconut is also the second-largest oil crop in the state, trailing only behind groundnut.

The financial strain on farmers has been overwhelming. Although the government provides compensation of Rs 32,000 per hectare for cutting and replanting trees, the actual costs soar to nearly Rs 12.5 lakh per hectare—around 40 times more, according to farmers.

They estimate that it costs Rs 2 lakh to cut down infected trees on an acre and an additional Rs 3 lakh to replant.

To compound the situation, it takes a minimum of three to five years for newly planted trees to start producing coconuts.

In the meantime, production has already declined by nearly 60 percent in the affected areas, with farms in Aliyar near Pollachi being some of the hardest hit.

"The price of coconuts was around Rs 18-19 per kg in 2023. Now, it has surged to Rs 55 per kg due to the reduced yield. From 2,000 coconuts per acre, the output has plummeted to just 800. If this trend continues, prices could escalate even further," warned P. Jeevenantham, a coconut trader from Pollachi.

P. Siddharthan, Deputy Director of Horticulture, acknowledged the gravity of the situation.

"There is no medication available to treat infected trees. We categorize the disease into four stages—from symptom onset to irreversible damage. Once the trees reach the third or fourth stage, they can’t be saved."

Farmers are now urgently calling for state intervention to avert the collapse of coconut cultivation in Tamil Nadu.