Harish Madappa from Birunani in Kodagu and Chandrashekar from Limbekonda in Chikkamagaluru are facing severe distress as relentless rainfall has scattered tender coffee berries across their plantations. They are among hundreds of coffee growers grappling with this crisis.
Chandrashekar fears that if the berry drop continues, coffee farmers in the Kalasa region might face a total loss this year. The heavy rains have wreaked havoc across Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan districts—key coffee-producing areas in the state. The erratic weather is exacerbating challenges for an industry already struggling with high input and production costs.
H.T. Mohan Kumar, president of the Karnataka Growers Federation (KGF) and a grower from Sakleshpur in Hassan district, notes that the previous year’s scant rainfall had already impacted output. Now, the recent heavy rains threaten to cause further losses. He has urged the Coffee Board of India to quickly assess the damage, noting that gusty winds have also contributed to the destruction, with fallen trees damaging multiple plants at a time.
The regions of Hethoor, Attihalli, and several others in Hassan, Kodagu, and Chikkamagaluru are experiencing significant berry drop due to the relentless rain. Growers are particularly concerned as coffee is not covered under weather-based insurance.
Chikkamagaluru district alone has received over 1,000 mm of rainfall, negatively impacting coffee, pepper, and arecanut crops. Coffee falls under the Ministry of Commerce rather than the agriculture and horticulture sectors, which are covered by weather-based insurance.
Mohan Kumar has requested the Union Ministry of Commerce to extend weather-based insurance coverage to coffee and to exclude it from the SARFAESI Act, which governs asset securitization.
Chandrashekar added that the excessive moisture from the rains has led to a significant drop in coffee berries. The Kalasa region received 47 inches of rainfall in July, far exceeding the ideal 13 to 14 inches for coffee cultivation. The shortage of labor is further complicating the management of nutrition, weed removal, and other essential tasks.
Harish Madappa expressed disappointment that the recent rains have thwarted hopes of benefiting from the high international coffee prices, which had surged due to declines in production in Brazil and Vietnam. Robusta production in Vietnam has decreased due to drought, increasing demand, while rain in Brazil has negatively affected Arabica crops.
Madappa also highlighted the issue of black rot disease, exacerbated by the lack of pre-monsoon showers necessary for plant flowering. Despite using irrigation to support blooming, unpredictable rainfall and temperature extremes are disrupting plant growth cycles.
M.J. Dinesh, Chairman of the Coffee Board of India, announced that the Board will assess the losses and has tasked the director of research with developing region-specific practices. The Board aims to increase production from 3.7 lakh metric tonnes to 5.5 lakh metric tonnes over the next decade without expanding cultivation area. They will also promote technical advancements like clonal propagation, grafting, and tissue culture.
To address the shortage of knowledgeable supervisors, the Board plans to offer a two-year course with a stipend at the Central Coffee Research Institute in Balehonnur, Chikkamagaluru.
Dinesh added that the Commerce Ministry has requested a report on insurance coverage for growers, and he is hopeful for a favorable outcome. Additionally, the Coffee Board is seeking expert recommendations to address wild animal attacks, which have resulted in 26 fatalities from January to May, with 22 deaths caused by elephants. These attacks are also deterring laborers, further impacting the sector.
Karnataka remains the leading coffee producer in India, contributing approximately 70% of the country’s coffee output.
