Heavy Rainfall and Whitefly Infestation Damage Sugarcane Crops in South Gujarat

Surat — South Gujarat has been hit hard by heavy rainfall, leading to widespread devastation across the region's agricultural landscape. Approximately 15,000 acres of sugarcane crops are standing submerged, and a significant portion of the crop is now infested with whiteflies. Farmers are calling for an urgent survey of the damage to help them recover from the severe economic losses they are facing.

Farmers' leader Jayesh Delad has made an appeal to the state's Agriculture Minister, highlighting the extensive damage caused by the relentless rains in Surat, Tapi, and other districts of South Gujarat. Out of the 300,000 acres of sugarcane cultivation in the region, a substantial portion has been severely affected. The whitefly infestation, which has already spread across 15,000 acres of crops, continues to grow, exacerbating the situation.

Delad emphasized the need for a thorough survey to assess the damage caused by the rains and to ensure that affected farmers, especially those battling the whitefly infestation, receive the necessary assistance. The infestation has led to significant losses, leaving many farmers in a dire situation.

Areas including Olpad, Kudsad, Kim, Palsana, and Bardoli are particularly suffering from the whitefly outbreak. The infestation has not only damaged the crops but has also instilled fear among the farming community. The challenges are further compounded as the standing sugarcane crop is at a stage where pesticide spraying can have detrimental effects, leaving farmers with limited options to save their yields. 

Farmers in South Gujarat are now anxiously awaiting government intervention to provide them with much-needed relief and to help mitigate the impact of this agricultural crisis.