Karnataka - Hassan   

Pepper, coffee and chilli crop affected in Hassan

HASSAN: Following heavy rainfall in the district in the past four days, coffee, pepper and green chilli crop have been severely affected. The minimum loss for every 100 acres of landholding has been estimated at Rs. 5 lakh for coffee. Pepper crop has been completely destroyed, while coffee has been spared such colossal damage. The total crop loss in the district has been estimated at Rs. 500 crore.

Manjunath, a planter, said that about a fortnight ago, the district received unprecedented rainfall. This had, in fact, helped Arabica coffee plants flower. Before fertilization could take place, further rainfall damaged the flowers. This would also affect 30 per cent of future crop, he added.

Convener of the joint action committee of the Karnataka Coffee Growers’ Federation B.A. Jagannath said coffee had been grown on 80,000 acres of land in the district, comprising Sakleshpur, Alur, Belur and parts of Arkalgud taluks. Berries from coffee plants had fallen to the ground and had got mixed with the soil. Now, they could not be used, he added. Even if dried, there would not be any aroma as water had entered them. Berries kept for drying in open yards had also been affected by the rain. Mr. Jagannath said pepper crop too had been affected.

Hassan is also a major supplier of green chilli to sauce and pickle-producing companies. Chilli is grown in Sakleshpur, Arkalgud and Alur taluks.

Farmers spend more than Rs. 125 crore towards its cultivation on 1,200 acres of land. They supply chilli to Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune. From Mumbai, it is exported to the West Asia and other countries.

Farmers earlier pumped water into their fields from the Hemavathi river. Now, they have been forced to pump the excess water from their lands back into the Hemavathi. Rame Gowda, a farmer from Arkalgud, said that the district received five inches of rainfall on Friday, and four inches of rainfall on Saturday. The entire chilli crop had been washed away, he added. To add to the district’s woes, there is an acute shortage of workers. This has also affected agricultural operations. Superintendent of Police K.V. Sharatchandra said there was no loss of life or property owing to rainfall in the district.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Pepper, coffee and chilli crop affected in Hassan
‘Neglect of Gorur worrisome’

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu