Scanty rain likely to affect pepper, coffee production

Suntikoppa and Kushalnagar hoblis have received scanty rainfall. If the region fails to get rain within a week, then it will affect pepper and coffee production in the region.

Farmers in Hosakote, Valnoor, Thyagathoor and Suntikoppa hoblis have been depending on black pepper and coffee for livelihood. The pepper vines have started bearing fruits now. Without rain, the fruit may start withering. The coffee plants had blossomed following heavy rain that lashed the region in the month of March. If the region fails to get rain, then the fruits will start falling.

Coffee and black pepper grower Rajappa said “we received heavy rainfall from June to September last year. Heavy rain had taken a toll on the yield. About 90 per cent of the crops were damaged.”

This year, the region has not received even the normal rainfall. As a result, there is no moisture content in the land to retain the coffee beans. Owing to shortage of rainfall there are all possibility of black pepper vines getting dried, he added. On the one hand growers are worried over losing crop due to scanty rainfall, on the other hand they are worried over wild elephants destroying the crops.

Grower M S Mahendra said “we can not depend on coffee alone for livelihood. We will incur loss if we fail to get black pepper. Last year I could get only 10 per cent of the yield due to heavy rainfall. However, this year I am fearing of losing everything.”

Narasimharajapura

Overcast sky did not bring rain to Narasimharajapura taluk for the last one week. The temperature is on rise in the taluk. The taluk has received only 324 mm rainfall this year. While it was 583 mm rainfall last year during the corresponding period. Decline in rainfall in June has affected paddy cultivation in the taluk with even sowing and transplanting operations affected. Those farmers who are dependent on irrigation facilities,  have completed the farming activities. “If rain continues to fail, then paddy growers may stop growing paddy,” said paddy farmers.