Karnataka: Coffee growers in distress over unseasonal rainfall in Sakleshpur region

HASSAN: Unseasonal rainfall in Sakleshpur region has badly hit coffee production as the planters are finding it hard to dry the coffee beans. The region, which is no stranger to heavy rainfall during the peak season, has not seen the sun for days on end. This is worrying the coffee growers as they are finding it difficult to dry coffee seeds. The incessant rainfall has affected pepper and ginger crops, which are decaying because of extreme moisture in the weather.
Arabica coffee is harvested, processed and dried well in October and November.However this year, the unseasonal rain has left coffee fruits dropping and pepper vines decaying.
Some growers have scattered seeds inside rooms at their houses, at vehicles parking spots, on balconies, on trays kept over traditional ovens, to dry the coffee fruits.
"Devaladakere village, which is on the fringes of Western Ghats, has received nearly 4,200 mm of rainfall this year. We are unable to take home a single coffee seed this time. Situation like this has never been witnessed in the past," said Mallappa, a coffee planter.
"More than 80% of us are small planters who are not economically fit to purchase costlier dryers. They are reeling under losses since five years due to floods and decline in prices. Even big planters continue to face loss. If this continues, we may not be able to depend on coffee depend on coffee for livelihood," said Subramanya, president of Hassan Cofffee Planters Association.
In parts of Sakleshpur, Alur and Belur, rain has damaged coffee and pepper crops. Revenue department, taluk panchayat, coffee board, agriculture department and horticulture department have jointly formed an emergency response team. A report on crop and property loss will soon be sent to the government, said Sakleshpur AC Prateek Bayal.