Tropical Storm Wutip Devastates Hainan’s Banana Industry

At approximately 11 p.m. on June 13, Tropical Storm Wutip, the first named storm of the annual typhoon season and classified as a severe tropical storm, made landfall near the town of Basuo, part of the city of Dongfang, Hainan province. It then made its second landfall along the western coast of the city of Leizhou in Guangdong province at around 12:30 p.m. on June 14, with the maximum sustained winds near its center reaching 30 meters per second.

Crops in Hainan, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces suffered significant damage, with large-scale fruit drop and plant lodging observed for lychees, bananas, papayas, durians and rice. Bananas, being in their peak harvest season, were hit particularly hard, with many regions experiencing catastrophic losses.

After making landfall in Dongfang, the storm’s path closely aligned with Hainan’s primary banana-growing region, delivering a devastating blow to the industry. Numerous banana trees were snapped or uprooted, and significant numbers of nearly mature bananas were knocked to the ground. The severe damage caused by the storm is expected to have a substantial impact on banana production in the affected areas, driving prices upward.

Beginning on June 11, China Banana Research System launched an emergency response to support growers in disaster prevention and mitigation efforts. The implemented measures included establishing windbreak protections, inspecting drainage and irrigation systems, and harvesting nearly mature fruits in advance to reduce losses. Although some banana growers managed to salvage part of their crops through early harvesting, many unharvested banana trees were seriously damaged or entirely toppled.

According to assessments by China Banana Research System, the affected area in Sanya was approximately 1,000 hectares, with 90% of bananas harvested. Among the unharvested bananas, around 80% were damaged, primarily owing to toppled trees. In Ledong, the total affected area was about 4,200 hectares, with 90% harvested, while 70–80% of the unharvested bananas suffered damage. In Dongfang, the affected area spanned approximately 4,300 hectares, with 80% harvested and 70–80% of the unharvested bananas damaged. Changjiang had a total affected area of about 5,700 hectares, with 50% harvested and 50–60% of the unharvested bananas sustaining damage. In Danzhou, the affected area was about 1,900 hectares, with 30% harvested; the most impacted region was Haitou, where 40% of unharvested bananas were damaged, while other areas saw less impact. Lingao had a total affected area of about 2,100 hectares, with 15% harvested and relatively minimal damage.

After the storm, growers swiftly began cleanup and self-rescue efforts. Owing to the high susceptibility of bananas on trees toppled by the storm to rotting and spoilage, processing within two days was necessary for the bananas to remain marketable. To minimize losses, growers hastened the harvesting and sale of salvageable bananas.

The heavy rainfall accompanying the storm further exacerbated the situation. If waterlogged banana roots are not drained promptly, root rot is likely to occur. Additionally, bananas damaged by strong winds are highly susceptible to leaf diseases, and the affected trees are also at risk of weevil infestations. Follow-up efforts, such as drainage and disinfection, are crucial to minimize further damage.

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.