'Coffee growers must fight unitedly to save industry'

Coffee growers should unitedly fight to find solutions to the burning problems faced by the coffee industry, said Coffee Board President M S Bhoje Gowda.

Speaking at a seminar on coffee and Swaccha Bharath Abhiyan organised by the extension cell of Coffee Board at Mallenahalli on Friday, he said, "Drought, fall in production, fall in price, diseases affecting coffee plants and a shortage of labourers are haunting the coffee industry. Even this year, the coffee production has reduced. The price of coffee and pepper has seen a downward trend. As a result, the coffee growers are in distress being unable to repay the loans."

A delegation of growers association office bearers had met the Union minister of commerce and had apprised him of the problems faced by the coffee industry. The coffee growers should unitedly fight for saving the industry, he added.

Coffee Board Member K K Manukumar said, "coffee training centre will be set up by the Coffee Board in Bengaluru shortly. "

"Various training will be imparted in the centre for the benefit of the coffee growers' children, " he added.

Swaccha Bharath Abhiyan project director G L Vittal called upon the participants to keep their surroundings clean. There is a need to conserve the environment for the future.

Coffee Board extension cell joint director T C Hemanth Kumar, deputy director G Thimmaraju and others were present.