Untimely coffee flowering worries growers

The untimely flowering of Robusta coffee in the midst of the harvesting season has put the growers in hardship.

Normally Robusta coffee flowers during February-March. Climate change with the untimely rains due to Cyclone Ockhi has resulted in the flowering of the plants even when the harvesting is in full swing.

"Harvesting of beans on the flowering plants will cause withering of the flowers and affect fruit setting," feel the growers.

Coffee grower Kushalappa said, "the cloudy weather affects the drying of coffee beans as well."

The coffee growers are also facing the problem of shortage of labourers. And the untimely flowering will affect the coffee production.