A employee in a espresso property. File (representational picture)
Karnataka’s key espresso rising districts – Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan – have obtained considerably decrease rainfall to this point this monsoon in comparison with final season. While that is worrying, espresso planters are additionally tense about the opportunity of heavy downpour in a single brief stretch within the later section of monsoon, a phenomenon that has prior to now pushed them to misery.
According to Karnataka Planters’ Association (KPA), a major espresso growers’ physique based mostly in Chikkamagaluru, the rainfall obtained by the espresso heartland to this point has been 60% decrease than the corresponding interval final 12 months.
Confirming this to The Hindu, A. Prasad, scientist, India Meteorological Department, stated Kodagu was probably the most hit among the many three districts as it obtained 60% much less rainfall in comparison with the identical interval final monsoon. The deficiency felt in Hassan district was 48% and Chikkamagaluru 44%.
However, Mr. Prasad stated: “This rainfall deficiency is likely to decrease as we expect normal rainfall in the State from July 21 to August 4. Between July 21 and July 27, we are likely to see active monsoon over coastal Karnataka, ghats districts, north interior of the State, and coffee districts.’‘
Worried about downpour
Mahesh Shashidhar, chairman, KPA, said the decrease in rainfall has not yet impacted the coffee crop but in the long term it would affect planters as low rainfall would mean less groundwater availability and drying of streams and springs in plantations.
“What we dread most is huge downpour for several days at a stretch. That will certainly impact coffee crops adversely. Already, most plantations did not get timely blossom showers in February-March negatively impacting berry setting and yield,” he stated.
