Drought has destroyed coffee plantations and damaged tender berries in a coffee estate in South Kodagu region. Photo: The Kodagu Express.
Madikeri: Planters in Kodagu also known as Coorg are concerned that uneven monsoon distribution this year could lead to an estimated loss of ₹850 crore in coffee and pepper crops.
The hilly Kodagu district in Karnataka, contributing to approximately 36% of India's coffee production and known for the country's finest pepper, is troubled by the uneven distribution of rainfall.
As per a report in The Hindu, Bose Mandanna, ex-vice-chairman of the Coffee Board and a Kodagu climate expert, deems the ₹850 crore loss estimate conservative. This calculation involves a presumed 25% reduction in coffee yield (₹750 crore) and a 20% decrease in pepper yield (₹100 crore).
Mr Mandanna further notes, "This has led to issues like high temperatures and insufficient moisture. Coffee, for instance, thrives in temperatures below 35 degrees Celsius. With climate change already impacting temperatures, this year's noticeable temperature rise is exacerbated by the monsoon shortfall, reducing overall moisture levels."
Tender berries and leaves are scattered throughout a coffee estate in Virajpet, South Kodagu. Photo: The Kodagu Express
42% rainfall deficit:
The president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha in Kodagu, Manu Somaiah, contends that this move will escalate loan burdens on farmers, potentially forcing them to sell parts of their land. This trend, he warns, could exacerbate commercialization and have detrimental effects on the Kodagu ecosystem.
The Hindu report further states, Kodagu district experienced a significant 42% cumulative rainfall deficit during the Southwest Monsoon this year, surpassing the state's average deficit of 25%. Notably, the district faced particularly severe shortfalls, reaching 80% in June and 82% in August.
Drought-hit taluks:
In September, Madikeri, Virajpet, and Kushalnagar were declared as drought-hit taluks by Karnataka government, while Somwarpet is categorized as moderately affected. Ponnampet taluk is experiencing severe drought due to rainfall deficits, although it hasn't been officially declared as drought-hit by the state government.
Typically, the district receives rainfall for at least 22 days in August. However, this year, the district only experienced rainfall for 8 days. Consequently, there's a 30% rainfall deficit in Madikeri, a 38% deficit in Somwarpet, a 57% deficit in Virajpet, and a 53% deficit in Ponnampet taluk.
Coffee planatation in Coffee Research Substation of Coffee Board of India in Chettalli village of Kodagu District. Photo: The Kodagu Express
On September 14, the Karnataka government officially announced that 195 taluks in the state were impacted by drought due to a deficient monsoon. Of these, 161 taluks were categorized as severely affected, while 34 were labeled as moderately hit.
The regions most severely impacted by this drought were identified in the Old Mysuru and Malnad areas of Karnataka.
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