Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Farmers Association has petitioned that pests have completely destroyed coconut trees in the district and thus demanded a waiver of bank loans. They also stated that the prices of coconut, banana, lemon and tomato have been severely affected.
Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Farmers Association has petitioned that pests have completely destroyed coconut trees in the district and thus demanded a waiver of bank loans. They also stated that the prices of coconut, banana, lemon and tomato have been severely affected.
The Association also lodged a complaint at the District Revenue Office by covering their mouths with green cloths and showcasing palm tree leaves that have been damaged due to white pests.
Addressing the media, the farmers said that coconut cultivation worth several crores of rupees have been affected by the white pests. They also said that people who got a loan through Wasteland Development Program were worst hit by the white pests.
They also complained that the pest control given by the State Government of Tamil Nadu's Department of Entomology was ineffective and the presence of these pests were on the rise. was very high. The farmers also urged the Government of Tamil Nadu to come up with a scientific invention and create a pesticide for these white pests.
The Department of Entomology has reported that these insects are from overseas and hence the farmers have requested the district administration to request the Central government to pass a legislation to ban genetically modified seeds from foreign countries that affect Indian agricultural produce.