<p>Coffee plants have gone dry in the taluk due of lack of normal rainfall in February and March. About 30% of Arabica coffee is lost due to dry spell. Along with coffee, black pepper vines have also gone dry. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Normally, the region receives 106.36 mm rainfall in March. However, not even a drop of rain has dampened the region this year. It will have an impact on the yield. <br /><br />The highest yield of Arabica coffee comes from Kodagu in the state. On an average, 12 metric tonnes of Arabica coffee is grown in the taluk alone. In 42 villages of the taluk, Arabica coffee is grown on 7,405 hectares and Robasta is grown on 504 hectares. <br /><br />The taluk faced acute shortage of water with the decline in rainfall last year and the wells, borewells and water bodies had gone dry. <br /><br />This year, the growers are worried about how to protect their plants due to lack of rain. <br />Coffee is grown on 1,02,525 hectares in Kodagu district. The weather in Somwarpet is conducive for cultivating Arabica coffee. Coffee grower Hanagal Ramesh said, “We have been incurring losses for the last few years. The vagaries of nature and increase in expenditure in maintaining the coffee estates have affected us.” <br /><br />Taluk Coffee Growers’ Association president Mohan Bopanna said, “Without rain, the flowering of the coffee plants is delayed. The growers with sources of water have irrigated the plants using sprinklers for flowering while those who do not it, have to depend on rain. Due to delay in rain, the Arabica harvest for next year will be reduced by 30 per cent. If it does not rain within a week, most of Arabica and Robasta plants and pepper vines will go dry.” <br />DH News Service</p>
<p>Coffee plants have gone dry in the taluk due of lack of normal rainfall in February and March. About 30% of Arabica coffee is lost due to dry spell. Along with coffee, black pepper vines have also gone dry. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Normally, the region receives 106.36 mm rainfall in March. However, not even a drop of rain has dampened the region this year. It will have an impact on the yield. <br /><br />The highest yield of Arabica coffee comes from Kodagu in the state. On an average, 12 metric tonnes of Arabica coffee is grown in the taluk alone. In 42 villages of the taluk, Arabica coffee is grown on 7,405 hectares and Robasta is grown on 504 hectares. <br /><br />The taluk faced acute shortage of water with the decline in rainfall last year and the wells, borewells and water bodies had gone dry. <br /><br />This year, the growers are worried about how to protect their plants due to lack of rain. <br />Coffee is grown on 1,02,525 hectares in Kodagu district. The weather in Somwarpet is conducive for cultivating Arabica coffee. Coffee grower Hanagal Ramesh said, “We have been incurring losses for the last few years. The vagaries of nature and increase in expenditure in maintaining the coffee estates have affected us.” <br /><br />Taluk Coffee Growers’ Association president Mohan Bopanna said, “Without rain, the flowering of the coffee plants is delayed. The growers with sources of water have irrigated the plants using sprinklers for flowering while those who do not it, have to depend on rain. Due to delay in rain, the Arabica harvest for next year will be reduced by 30 per cent. If it does not rain within a week, most of Arabica and Robasta plants and pepper vines will go dry.” <br />DH News Service</p>
