Heavy rains affect Robusta coffee

Growers in Kalasa have been suffering crop loss owing to incessant rain and diseases of late.

The growers had worried over delay in rainfall in the  month of June. However, incessant rainfall has affected Robusta coffee, the lifeline of the farmers in the hobli.

“The district have had considerable amount of rain without a break in the last few days . This has caused rot to set in Robusta coffee which has caused berry drop. If we touch the plants, the berries will start withering. Even the leaves have also started withering,” said growers.

The leaves have turned into black colour. Black rot usually occurs during monsoon in the areas with high humidity.

Blackening and subsequent rotting of young leaves, berries and shoots is the feature of the disease. Diseased leaves get detached from branches and hang out.

This will have an impact on the output, said growers.

Growers said “the hobli has been receiving heavy rain for the last 15 days. Owing to increase in humidity, the plants do not get enough nutrients, resulting in disease.

Continuous rainfall has also resulted in fungal infection. Along with rot disease, the coffee plants have been affected with wet foot disease.” 

Horattimane Sriram said “intermittent rain will bring the disease under control.”
Kanchinakere grower Raviraj said “as per the directions of the Coffee Board, we have applied Urea and plucked the tender leaves to check the disease. Without recede in rainfall, the berries will continue to wither.”

The coffee growers were expecting bumper crop this year. However, rain has dashed the hope.