Relentless Monsoon Rains Damage Coffee in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan in Karnataka

Planters say that uninterrupted rainfall over the past three months has resulted in the spread of black rot disease in arabica and fruit rot in robusta varieties.

Madikeri/Virajpet: The incessant rains from June to August across Karnataka’s coffee belt have cast a shadow over the upcoming coffee harvest season, raising concerns among growers in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan. These three districts, which together account for the bulk of India’s coffee production, are reporting crop damage due to prolonged precipitation and the early onset of diseases.

Planters say that uninterrupted rainfall over the past three months has resulted in the spread of black rot disease in arabica and fruit rot in robusta varieties. The continuous downpour has not only caused premature berry dropping but also hampered growers’ ability to carry out timely crop protection measures. The resulting damage is expected to affect yields for the 2025-26 coffee season, which begins in October.

“From the last four months of heavy rains in Kodagu, there have been heavy droppings of coffee berries. Pepper and arecanut grown on our estates have also perished. The diseases following these rains will only worsen our condition,” said Manira Shaima, a coffee planter from West Nemmale village in South Kodagu.

Growers point out that cultural operations and spraying of bordeaux mixture, normally undertaken during brief gaps in rainfall, have been impossible this season. “It has rained without a break through July and August. We were unable to complete the protective sprays, which has led to the early onset of black rot. This disease causes berry drop and major crop loss in arabica,” said Manjunath K, a planter from Somwarpet in North Kodagu.

Adding to the growers’ woes, the monsoon rains arrived earlier than usual this year. “The showers began soon in the first week of June ahead of schedule and continued heavily, leaving no scope for us to take up spraying operations,” said Prakash H, a planter from Mudigere in Chikkamagaluru.

Besides coffee, black pepper and arecanut, which are widely grown as intercrops in plantations, have also been hit by fungal infections and droppings. This has compounded losses for growers who depend on multiple crops for sustenance.

With the prolonged wet spell showing little respite, coffee planters across the three districts have urged the Coffee Board and local authorities to step in and begin assessing the extent of losses. Many fear that without timely intervention, small growers in particular will be pushed into financial distress.

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