Banana farmers in Karnataka struggle with crop damage due to extreme cold
Bengaluru: Banana farmers in Karnataka are grappling with crop damage as extreme cold weather this winter threatens their harvests.
Horticulture officials stated that over 25 percent of the banana crop, particularly those at the early growing stages, would be affected as temperature dipped below 12°C, as reported by Deccan Herald on Monday.
Farmers are concerned that the ongoing cold snap could lead to long-term consequences, including a reduction in exports. Wholesale merchants have noted that the severe cold has caused banana fruits to discolour, resulting in lower market quality and a slump in export demand.
Karnataka, the third-largest banana producer in India after Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, yielded 29.73 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24, DH mentioned. The state's banana-growing areas include Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Mysuru, and Hassan, as well as Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Bidar, and other parts of North Karnataka, where irrigation facilities support production.
“I have grown Cavendish bananas on three acres by investing Rs 4.5 lakh. I have lost a part of the crops due to heavy rainfall in August last year. Now, I am finding it difficult to get returns on my investment due to foggy and cold conditions,” Gulappa Mahadevaswamy from Dodda Katuru village in Mysuru taluk, was quoted as saying by DH.
Banana exporter Alisab Choudhari explained that cold temperatures are causing significant market rejection of the fruit, as the bananas are turning reddish and losing its quality. A farmer Shankar Myakeri from Afzalpur taluk said that around 40 percent of the crop on his 10-acre farmland would likely be damaged due to extreme cold.
Santosh Inamdar, Deputy Director of the Kalaburagi Horticulture Department, stated that approximately 4,000 hectares of banana crops in the district were more susceptible to severe cold, especially where the soil lacks zinc and boron. He advised farmers to use these micronutrients to help mitigate the damage and encourage better growth.
In light of the growing concerns, farmers have called on the government to purchase bananas at a support price to ease the financial burden. They have also demanded that a separate board be established to protect the interests of banana growers.
Meanwhile, K.B. Dundi, Additional Director of the Horticulture Department (Fruits), reassured that while damage to banana crops during winter is common, the situation is usually temporary. “It is a matter of two weeks for them to recover once summer starts,” he added.
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TikTok restores service in the U.S. after Trump pledges to pause federal ban
TikTok resumed operations for its U.S. users on Sunday afternoon following assurances from President-elect Donald Trump to temporarily halt a federal ban on the app after his inauguration on January 20.
The app had faced a brief shutdown earlier in the day over “national security concerns,” with a federal order mandating its China-based parent company, Bytedance, to sever ties with its U.S. operations. However, the order allows a 90-day extension if a viable sale is in progress.
Trump, set to assume office in January, expressed a willingness to grant TikTok more time to comply with federal requirements. He suggested a joint venture in which the U.S. holds a 50% ownership stake, asserting that the app’s valuation could soar to "hundreds of billions or even trillions" of dollars.
“By doing this, we save TikTok and keep it in good hands,” Trump stated on Truth Social, his social media platform.
During his previous presidency, Trump had supported a ban on TikTok, citing security risks. His executive orders targeting Bytedance and WeChat were subsequently blocked by courts. However, Trump’s position on the app shifted during his recent campaign, as TikTok significantly boosted his popularity among younger voters.
Despite the announcement, the app remained unavailable on Google Play and Apple app stores. Uncertainty lingered as the U.S. Supreme Court had unanimously upheld the ban on Friday, enforcing it the day before Trump’s return to office
TikTok issued a statement confirming it was restoring service, thanking Trump for “necessary clarity and assurance” to its service providers. The app’s message to users declared, “TikTok is back in the U.S.!”
