Death blow to small farmers

A banana farmer at his plantation damaged by Hudhud at Appannapalem in Visakhapatnam dsitrict. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

For small farmers eking a living raising banana, cashew, or vegetables, the cyclone Hudhud has dealt a death blow.

Having lost the crop that is about to bring them money, they are not able to come to terms with the destruction caused by the storm.

At Appannapalem, not far from Visakhapatnam, Paila Appa Rao had a banana plantation in one acre and twenty cents of land. He had raised the crop two years ago and was about to reap it rich as the fruit was all set to ripen. But the gale on October 12 morning destroyed everything, he recalled.

For Achhibabu, the loss is relatively small, but he is equally shattered.

He had sown bitter gourd in 30 cents and it was wiped out. Paila Venkanna, an old farmer, had cashew plantation in 50 cents of land. It takes 10 years for the crop to give yield, and he has enjoyed the crop of just one year.

With cashew being in great demand, he would have got good income for a few more years. But that was not to be.

For Yeruku Naidu, who had raised eucalyptus in 40 cents of land, it’s the same story.

All the families live at Roadpalem, a part of Appannapalem in Achyutapuram mandal.