CHENNAI: The DMK and AIADMK were involved in a heated debate in the TN assembly on Wednesday regarding the issue of invasive white flies attacking coconut trees.
The issue was raised by former AIADMK minister Pollachi V Jayaraman, who said, “Pollachi and its surrounding areas depend upon coconut cultivation. Earlier, people used to cultivate a variety of crops such as groundnut, but due to frequent pest attacks, they were all abandoned. People found that coconut was the only tree that would not be infected by pests, so they entirely shifted to coconut cultivation. But now the attack of white flies has intensified.”
The former minister said agro-based industry was entirely affected by the pest attack. “Coir, which is one of the byproducts of coconut, is imported to China, and the revenue earned from China alone is Rs 4,000 crore. But because of the infestation, imports have been hit as 25% of the trees were cut.”
Questioning the steps taken to control the spread of the insect attack, Jayaraman asked, “What is the solution? What pesticide has been invented to prevent the attack? What are researchers doing?”
Agriculture minister M R K Panneerselvam replied that the pest attack was present even during the previous AIADMK govt, but nothing was done in 10 years. Citing the steps taken by govt, Panneerselvam said, “The research for pesticide is ongoing. Research takes three to five years.”
Former AIADMK minister S P Velumani intervened and asked, “When a vaccine for Covid-19 was found immediately, why is there a delay in inventing a vaccine for the white flies attack?”
‘Cultivation area declines under DMK govt’Former agriculture minister Agri S S Krishnamurthy on Wednesday said the total area under cultivation reduced under DMK regime when compared to the previous AIADMK govt.
Speaking in the assembly, Krishnamurthy said, “The DMK promised that they would increase the area under cultivation but did not do so. They conveniently quoted the data of 2019-20 where the total area under cultivation was 146.77 lakh acres and said in 2023-24, the area under cultivation increased to 151 lakh acres. However, the truth is that in 2020-21, the total area under cultivation was 152 lakh acres, which has now decreased under DMK govt.”