Kerala   

Rain damages tobacco crop

KASARAGOD: Rain since Thursday afternoon has caused severe damage to the tobacco crop in various parts of the district.

Apart from Palakkad, Kasaragod is the only district in the State where tobacco is cultivated.

The damage was severe in Kuniya, Periya, Kalyot, Ajanoor, Pallikkara and Panayal where tobacco was ready for harvesting. Harvested tobacco leaves spread out for drying were also damaged in the rain.

Farmers said they had suffered heavy loss owing to rain. Even heavy sunshine in the coming days would not help as the damage had already been done, they said.

The farmers had received a good price for harvested tobacco leaves this season.

The price ranged around Rs.400 a kg. But they are apprehensive that the price will fall owing to the damage to the leaves from rain and humid conditions.

Though the Union and State governments do not promote tobacco cultivation, a large number of farmers in the district cultivate tobacco as it fetches a good price in the market.

Farmers who grow food crops also grow tobacco to offset the losses from food crop cultivation.

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