Former Minister Pollachi V. Jayaraman, AIADMK MLA representing Pollachi Assembly constituency, has made a representation to the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, seeking formation of another committee to study the sufferings faced by coconut growers in Pollachi and surroundings due to infestation of a host of diseases.
Mr. Jayaraman said another committee should be formed for comprehensive assessment of the damage caused to the crop due to spread of diseases like Rugose Spiraling Whitefly, rhinoceros beetle infestation, Kerala wilt disease, Thanjavur wilt disease, Kerala yellow wilt disease, spide rmite infestation, black-headed caterpillar infestation, and pencil point disease.
Coconut trees have been hit badly, yielding only one-tenth of the usual productivity. Coconut farmers are struggling to maintain the trees in Pollachi as well as in more than 40 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu. If the problem is not immediately solved, coconut trees will disappear in entirety in the next 10 years, Mr. Jayaraman apprehended in the petition.
Published – November 12, 2025 08:34 pm IST
