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Rains worry arecanut growers in Kalasa

Last Updated 24 July 2013, 17:04 IST

Farmers in Kalasa hobli are apprehensive about the future of their crops as rain continues to lash the region. 

The arecanut cultivation in Kalasa has been affected in the wake of incessant rains that has continued hitting the region for the last six weeks. 
The hobli has received 90 inches of rainfall from June 7 to July 23.
Samse, S K Megal and Kalakodu has received an average of 130 inches of rainfall. Nellibeedu near Kudremukh has recorded 130 inches of rainfall.  
The farmers said that the losses are extreme. The crop suffers from fruit rot (koleroga) disease and fungicide spraying proves ineffective as the rain washes it down. “The situation is really grim,” said a farmer.  Normally growers spray bordox mixture during mid June when rains give a break after continuos shower for few days. However, this year owing to continuos rainfall and shortage of labourers, bordeaux mixture could not be sprayed. About 20 to 30 per cent of the crops have been damaged. 
“Tender arecanuts have started withering. The yield will be lesser than last year,” said grower Kaggundi Jagadish from Hemmakki. 
Arecanuts have started withering at Horanadu, Samse, Kalasa, Nellibeedu, Munnurpal, Marasanige and S K Megal villages.
Coffee
Arabica coffee too has started withering in the estates. Owing to moisture content in the soil, the trees have been affected with diseases. Rains have been hampering the spray of fungicides, said Bhagyalakshmi estate Manager Shekar Shetty. 

Rainfall has also affected Robasta coffee. If the rains give a break for a few days, then we can save our crops, said farmers. 

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(Published 24 July 2013, 17:04 IST)

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