Hassan: Summer rains, crucial for the success of coffee plantations, haven’t brought much cheer to planters this season as they have been erratic and far from uniform in the region with major coffee growing areas of Hassan, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru falling short of rain this year.
Even within Chikkamagaluru, coffee growing areas such as Devavrunda and Mudigere and surrounding parts have received adequate rain, but Mallandur, Kalasa, Koppa and the hilly regions are suffering on account of low rainfall this season.
“It has been a mixed bag for planters,” say Mr Jayram, president of the Karnataka Growers Federation. He, however, explains that the impact on the coffee crop, both Arabica and Robusta, can be assessed only after a month.
What he is clear about though is that the lack of rain has led to disease on many plantations.
“It has rained in moderation and this along with the rise in temperature has caused the White Stem Borer infestation to spread on Arabica plantations. The moderate rain disappears fast, leaving the plantations dry and thirsting for water,” he says.
To add to the planters’ woes, artificial water tanks too have dried up,he reveals. “The officials concerned have removed obstacles preventing natural flow of the streams to plantations to help them,” he adds. But thistoo doesn’t seem to be helping them greatly
The planters had suffered last year too as the low rainfall had led to a drop in the yield of Arabica plantations. But fortunately the growers got a very good yield from the Robusta plantations, making up for their loss.
Whether the situation will be any better or worse this year is hard to tell as of now. The moderate rain leaves the coffee plantations dry.
