[Published on Saturday, 18 April 2026]
BY JUNELYN KELLY
A copra farmer in North Savo has suffered significant losses following the impact of Cyclone Maila, which caused widespread damage to coastal communities in the Central Islands Province.
Ataban Tonezepo, a 40 years old farmer of Balola Village, is among those affected after the strong storm surges swept inland, destroying vital farming infrastructure and produce.
In an interview with Island Sun, Tonezepo said he lost an estimated 15,000 mature coconut fruits that had already been collected and were awaiting processing, as well as 32 fully packed bags of copra ready for sale.
“All these were stored in my shed, which is more than 30 meters from the sea, but the sea water still reached it,” he said.
Tonezepo said the cyclone’s powerful waves destroyed one of his storage sheds and damaged another, along with a copra dryer.
He added that equipment including dryer drums and storage facilities were washed away as seawater surged inland.
“To copra losses, the village’s megapode field is an important traditional site where locals harvest megapode bird eggs have also been completely destroyed and replaced with sand”, he said.
Tonezepo is now calling on both national and provincial governments to assist affected communities in Savo, as many continue to recover from the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Maila.
The extent of damage highlights the vulnerability of coastal livelihoods to extreme weather events, with communities now facing the challenge of rebuilding both infrastructure and income sources.Top of Form
Photo credit: Tonezepo
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