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Srimangala: The coffee plantations of South Kodagu have suffered a significant setback this year due to unrelenting heavy rains, leading to widespread crop loss. On Wednesday, Partha Pratim Chaudhury, the Joint Director of the Coffee Board, visited the affected areas in Hudikeri, Konageri, and Birunani Village of Ponnampet Taluk to inspect the damage firsthand and understand the plight of the local coffee growers.
During his visit, Chaudhury met with several farmers who have been grappling with the devastating effects of the heavy rains on their coffee estates. The farmers, already burdened by the challenges of plantation management, voiced their concerns and shared the difficulties they face in sustaining their livelihoods.
Challenges Faced by Coffee Growers
The heavy rains this year have exacerbated the already challenging conditions for coffee growers in Kodagu. The excessive moisture has led to the proliferation of various coffee-related diseases, further damaging the crops. While the Coffee Board has recommended the application of specific medicines to control these diseases, the farmers expressed their inability to comply with this advice due to the high cost of these treatments and the continuous rainfall, which makes it impractical to apply the necessary pesticides and fungicides effectively.
"Shortage of labour, increase in fertilizer prices, and the failure of harvests have made plantation management a big challenge. The cost of production has significantly increased," the farmers lamented during their discussions with Chaudhury.
Demand for Higher Compensation
In response to the severe crop loss, the growers have submitted a letter to the Coffee Board, urging the government to provide a higher level of compensation for this year's losses. The farmers highlighted that the compensation amount provided by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for coffee crops has not been revised for over 15 years. They have requested an increase in compensation to ₹1 lakh per acre to help mitigate the financial impact of the losses they have suffered.
Market Price Concerns
Although the international coffee market has seen an increase in prices this year, the growers in Kodagu are not reaping the benefits. Many small-scale growers are unable to hold onto their produce until the market improves due to the pressing need to repay bank loans and cover plantation maintenance expenses. As a result, they are forced to sell their coffee in March, often at lower prices than they would prefer.
"Even though the market price has increased recently, it is not affordable for small growers. Fertilizers and medicines should be provided to coffee growers under a subsidy, and we have requested that coffee crops be brought under an insurance facility to cover losses," the growers emphasized.
Coffee Board's Response
In response to the concerns raised by the farmers, Joint Director Chaudhury assured them that he would submit a detailed report to the higher officials of the Coffee Board regarding the current situation and the challenges faced by the growers.
Kodagu, a key coffee-growing region in Karnataka, plays a vital role in India's overall coffee production. While the international coffee market's rising prices have provided some relief, the Coffee Board of India remains concerned about the upcoming 2024-25 coffee production season. Projections indicate a notable decline in coffee yields, casting a shadow over the optimism brought by the price surge.
K.G. Jagadeesha, the CEO of the Coffee Board, recently highlighted the gravity of the situation, pointing out the "considerable loss" caused by the high temperatures in April and May, followed by the relentless rains in July and August. These climatic events have resulted in extensive damage to coffee plantations across key growing areas, severely impacting both the quantity and quality of the coffee harvest.
India's coffee production for the 2023-24 crop year was approximately 3.6 lakh metric tonnes. However, with the climatic challenges faced this year, the 2024-25 production is expected to be significantly lower, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of coffee farming in the region.
For farmers in Kodagu, the situation is particularly dire. The recent heavy rains have not only led to widespread berry dropping but also triggered the onset of fungal diseases, further threatening the coffee crops.
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