Home / Disasters and Accidents / Guava Crisis: India's Prized Crop Devastated by Weather
Guava Crisis: India's Prized Crop Devastated by Weather
20 Jan
Summary
- Monsoon rains, fruit flies, and fungi destroyed 2.9 million pounds of guava.
- Over 1,300 hectares of guava crop in Prayagraj facing significant yield loss.
- Extreme weather events are increasingly causing devastating financial losses for farmers.
The Allahabadi guava crop in Prayagraj, India, has suffered immense devastation due to extreme weather and pest infestations. A heavier-than-normal monsoon season, coupled with a widespread fruit fly infestation and fungal disease, has led to the destruction of approximately 13,000 quintals (2.9 million pounds) of the valuable produce. This event severely impacts the region's economy, where over 1,300 hectares are dedicated to this crop.
Farmers report that while trees are bearing fruit, a significant portion is worm-infested and falls prematurely, rendering it unsellable. Experts attribute the fruit fly surge to the excessive moisture from the monsoon. This recurring issue of extreme weather events, amplified by human-caused pollution, is transforming occasional bad seasons into a more frequent and severe threat to farmers globally.
Farmers worldwide, from Australia to the United States, are experiencing substantial losses due to adverse weather. While methods like raised crop beds and drip irrigation can mitigate some damage, the article stresses the long-term necessity for governments, businesses, and individuals to collaborate on pollution reduction and sustainability solutions to protect future harvests.
