Coffee growers worried that excessive rains may resulted in berry droppings and fungal diseases
Incessant rains in key growing regions over the last few weeks have spelled trouble for India’s 2024-25 coffee crop, which began in October. Growers are concerned that excessive rains have resulted in berry droppings and fungal diseases such as black root rot, which could reduce crop output this year.
Over the last few weeks, key coffee-growing districts such as Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan have experienced excessive and continuous rains.
Rainfall in Chikmagalur was 121% above normal in July, totaling 1,101 mm compared to the normal of 497.7 mm. Similarly, Kodagu received 54% more rain in July. Against a normal rainfall of 767.3 mm, Kodagu has received 1179.5 mm to date. Hassan has received 38% surplus rain in july.
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No letup
“The rains don’t stop. Coffee is rotting on the plants. Also, the rains have caused berry droppings. Crop loss can be as high as 80% in some areas, while it is only about 40% in others. We expect a crop loss of around 60% in coffee,” stated HT Mohan Kumar, President of the Karnataka Growers Federation (KGF), which represents the state’s small and medium growers.
“Also, rains accompanied by heavy winds have led to the uprooting of shade trees such as silver oaks and others, resulting in collateral damages to the coffee plantations,” according to him. The KGF has already approached the Coffee Board and the State government, requesting intervention and compensation for the growers’ damages.
“We have asked the Centre to consider providing relief to growers through the NDRF for their losses. Mohan Kumar urged the government to increase the quantum of relief for plantation crops to ₹50,000 per hectare from the current ₹18,000 per hectare. Additionally, the slab for considering relief should be increased to 10 hectares per grower from the current 2 hectares.
Small growers in the coffee industry are those who own up to 10 hectares of land. Approximately 98% of the country’s coffee growers are considered small growers.
High crop losses?
Nanda Belliappa, Chairman of the Kodagu Planters Association, stated that the plantations in South Kodagu, which borders Kerala, have been heavily impacted. Crop losses could reach 40% in some areas due to berry dropping and fungal diseases such as root rot, he said.
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Growers were also affected by the white stem borer during the unusually hot weather in April and May this year. Crop setting was also hampered by erratic pre-monsoon showers between March and May. He added that the erratic weather would have an impact on the production of both Arabica and Robusta coffee.
According to BS Jayarama, a grower in Mudigere, the constant rains have had an impact on not only coffee but also other plantation crops such as pepper. Due to the continuous rains and heavy winds, the growers were unable to carry out cultural operations such as manure and bordeaux mixture application, which will have an impact on output, he said.
India produces over 3.5 lakh tonnes of coffee, with Karnataka accounting for more than 70% of the total output.
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