India - Post-floods, pineapple farmers face crisis

12.09.2018 1440 views

Heavy rain, flooding have led to outbreak of plant diseases

After the floods, pineapple farmers in the district have been plunged into a crisis with outbreak of plant diseases. Fungal diseases and rot are major problems on hand, said Baby John, a veteran farmer in Moovattupuzha, speaking about the losses sustained by farmers across the crop spectrum in the State.

Deformation

Though only about 5% of the plants went under water during severe flooding in August, about 50% of the fruits over the coming three months may be lost to diseases, he said. Besides loss of crop, deformation and stunted growth will lead to losses. Lack of proper growth will result in fruits being downgraded from A grade to B or C grades, he added. A scientist at the Pineapple Research Station, Vazhakkulam, said that heavy rains and flooding had resulted in a serious problem of diseases among pineapple plants.

Accumulation of sludge

Former director of the Pineapple Research Station K.P. Kuriakose said pineapple farms might not sustain long-term damage. But heavy currents in flooded fields may have caused sludge to accumulate in the heart of the plants that may result in serious losses, he said. Prajitha, a pineapple farmer with around two acres of cultivation under the Kudumbasree mission initiative in Kothamangalam, said that farmers like her were trying their best to retrieve as much plants as possible after the floods. An estimated 40,000 acres are under pineapple farming in Kerala and there are around 4,000 to 5,000 farmers involved with the crop. Fruit from areas like Vazhakkulam is in much demand. The Manjalloor, Avoli, Ayavana, Kalloorkkad and Arakkuzha panchayats near Vazhakkulam are famous for their pineapple farms. These areas experienced heavy rains and flooding during the month of August. Around 2,500 acres are under pineapple in Ernakulam district. Source - https://www.thehindu.com
21.10.2026

India - Government launches Pashudhan Bima Portal to streamline livestock insurance, claims and monitoring

The Government today launched Pashudhan Bima Portal in New Delhi. The Portal will provide a single, integrated digital platform for livestock insurance, enabling streamlined policy issuance, claim processing, monitoring and reporting in case of animals insured under the Livestock Insurance Scheme of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. 

21.10.2026

Malaysia - Perak Perhilitan monitoring elephant herd after crop destruction complaints

The Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) has received six official complaints this year from oil palm smallholders in Kampung Perlop 1, Sungai Siput, over wild elephants destroying crops and plantation infrastructure.

21.10.2026

Philippines - Ilocos Norte farmers seek insurance aid as drought causes crop damage

Farmers in Currimao, Ilocos Norte, have begun filing agricultural insurance claims after a prolonged dry spell caused an estimated Php 5 million in crop losses, threatening local agricultural production and livelihoods.

21.10.2026

USA - Safety Net or System Change? Minnesota Farmers Weigh Competing Visions

The state’s District 1 race offers a choice between an incumbent focused on crop insurance and markets, and a challenger calling for tariff relief and corporate accountability.

21.10.2026

Philippine farmers face insurance gap as storm losses mount

Proposed subsidy cuts threaten coverage for millions of farmers.

21.10.2026

South Korea - Extreme heat drives livestock insurance claims past 2,000 cases

Extreme summer heat has pushed livestock insurance claims from farms past 2,000 cases in the last two months, with pigs and poultry bearing the brunt.

20.10.2026

USA - High-Yield Cotton Farms Win Big in New Insurance Policy Shift

Growers can finally combine supplemental coverage with farm programs without losing protection that fits their operation. Meanwhile, federal officials are developing trade incentives for four countries that could expand demand for American cotton.

20.10.2026

India - Sanjay Lalla to head EASE project for PSU general insurers

The proposed EASE framework could provide a common reform roadmap for public sector general insurers, with a focus on improving productivity, strengthening governance, modernising technology platforms and enhancing customer service. Its effectiveness, however, will depend on how quickly the recommendations are translated into measurable operational and financial improvements.