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Title: Need to take effective measures to control spiderworm disease affecting coconut crop in Erode district and other parts of Tamil Nadu. â Laid.
(TIRUPPATTUR) : Spiderworm application has greatly affected and spoiled coconut crops in Tamil Nadu, especially Kongu region more particularly the areas in and around Erode district. Already the farmers are facing huge loss due to inadequate irrigation facilities. Spiderworm attack on coconut trees and inadequate irrigation water to cultivate other crops have left farmers desperate. Lakhs of coconut trees have withered away in a vast stretch of thousands of acres of coconut groves. It is said that effective and viable steps have not been taken to control these pests that affect coconut cultivators. This must be curbed as a contagious disease which causes enormous loss to agriculturists and our economy. Central Coconut Board must take measures to compensate loss to farmers and help them to put an end to this menace. Considering the loss to our national wealth both the Union Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce must take immediate steps involving the State Governments also.