Wildfires devastating cashew plantations in Pernem

by BHIVA P PARAB
Posted on 2009-03-28
PERNEM - Wildfires in cashew plantations in Pernem taluka make up 50 per cent of the fire incidents in the taluka, causing huge losses to cultivators.
The Pernem station fire officer, Mr G B Shetye said that of the total fire incidents almost 50 per cent occur in cashew plantations of Pernem taluka. The maximum fire incidents take place from December to May, and mostly in the afternoon.
Recalling the method which used to be adopted to keep the fire off, he said that some 40 years back people who had cashew trees on the hills used to come together and put aagist (fire cover) in November, when the grass still had some moisture left in it and was not completely dry. This practice protects the cashew plantations from fire. Throwing light on the method, Mr Shetye said, “About three metres from the boundary of the cashew trees on the hill a grass patch of one to two metres is selected and by taking some grass at a time it is burnt and then extinguished. This creates a protective belt around the hill, which helps in keeping the fire away from the cashew trees,” he said.
He observed that nowadays this practice is not resorted to so there are more wildfires in the plantations. If anyone wants to make aagist on a hill dotted with cashew trees then unity should be there among the people as many a times the hill is a property of many people and all should agree to make the fire cover.
“Young cashew plants are more vulnerable to fire than the grown ones whose bark is much harder and can resist the fire,” he said. There are various causes of wildfire. There could be wildfire because of sparks which fall on dry grass due to high tension. There could be wildfire if some passerby throws a burning cigarette on the dry grass. Extinguishing of the fire becomes a Herculean task because a fire tender cannot be driven on the hilly area.
The Pernem station fire officer attributed carelessness on the part of people to the frequent wildfires.