Drought damages 84,656 hectares of coconut plantations in Karnataka; impact may last for three years

Karnataka’s severe drought has damaged 84,656 hectares of coconut plantations across the State, with officials warning that the impact on the crop could persist for up to three years due to the long growth cycle of coconut trees.

According to the officials of the Department of Horticulture, among all horticultural crops that have surveyed in past months, coconut has recorded the highest crop loss, followed by onion and other vegetables. They said that the impact of this drought would remain for the next three years.