Thiruvananthapuram: Agriculture minister T Siddique has said intense rain and flooding have damaged crops across 1,882 hectares, causing losses to the tune of Rs 67.44 crore.According to the preliminary assessment of crop-wise first information reports from the districts, 23,537 farmers are affected by the disaster. “Paddy and banana crops account for more than 80% of the total financial loss recorded statewide,” the minister said.Alappuzha reported the highest loss at Rs 13.05 crore, followed by Wayanad (Rs 12.96 crore), Pathanamthitta (Rs 9.37 crore), Malappuram (Rs 7.88 crore) and Ernakulam (₹4.96 crore). “Pathanamthitta, where 5,303 farmers are affected, has the highest number of distressed farmers in the state,” he added.In Malappuram, the loss was driven mainly by damage to banana and paddy cultivation. In Ernakulam, multiple crops, including paddy, banana, nutmeg and vegetables, were damaged.Significant losses are also reported in Kannur (Rs 3.38 crore), Kottayam (Rs 3.28 crore), Idukki (Rs 3.27 crore), Kollam (Rs 2.94 crore) and Kozhikode (Rs 2.74 crore). Other districts affected by crop damage include Thiruvananthapuram (Rs 1.72 crore), Kasaragod (Rs 1.04 crore), Thrissur (Rs 69.62 lakh) and Palakkad (Rs 17.38 lakh).The minister said the agriculture department is taking steps to accurately assess damage in flood-hit areas and ensure timely assistance for eligible farmers. He added that, alongside speeding up compensation procedures, govt will place emphasis on expanding climate-resilient farming practices, effectively implementing crop insurance schemes and developing dedicated agricultural infrastructure in disaster-prone regions.
