Growers' expectations soar as coffee blossoms

As prices have become steady farmers anticipate good returns

The hills ranges and valleys in Mudigere, seem to be draped in white dress as the coffee flowers have blossomed in the plantations. As the scent of coffee flowers  spread everywhere, honey bees buzz around and create a heart captivating mood in the environs of  Malenadu.

The rains famously known as ‘coffee blossom’ that showered during last week across Mudigere taluk, has created such a scene across the taluk. The flowers started blossoming from Monday, filling lot of hopes in coffee growers.

Following lots of fluctuations in coffee crop in the taluk during the last five years, growers incurred a loss, due to fall in the rates.

Especially during the last two years, the excess rains during the fruit bearing season had created problem for agriculturists.

As the rates have become steady now, the farmers anticipate good returns. The months of February and March is the season of providing water to coffee plantations and if there are no rains during the time, farmers are to carry the extra burden of supplying water to the plantations.

But now, with the showers, a lot of electricity and fuel has been saved, thus preventing the draining of pockets of the planters.

With the blossoming of coffee flowers, the honey bees have surrounded the coffee plantations.

The honeycombs have also been placed in coffee plantations in large numbers.

Need for water
But, at the same time, planter Raju says if the coffee flowers blossom at once, the pollination may not happen properly as there will be no sufficient number of honey bees.
Also, there is a need of water after the flowers get dry and if it doesn’t rain, the yield may not be satisfactory, he forecasts.

Hence, the planters have their fingers crossed and hope for a proportionate rain, to compliment good returns this time.