Stating that white stem borer has been causing yield loss in Arabica coffee plantations in Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts, members of the Karnataka Growers’ Federation have demanded a relief package for protecting the coffee variety from extinction. The federation, an organisation comprising growers of coffee, tea and spices, has said that owing to the pest attack, the yield in Arabica fields had come down by almost 6,000 tonnes in recent years.
According to U.M. Thirthamallesh, general secretary of the federation, the annual yield of Arabica coffee before the pest attack was about 15,000 tonnes.
Now, it had come down to 9,000 tonnes. The growers, who invest lakhs of rupees on Arabica plantation, were reeling under loss as they were unable to get the yield to match their investment, he said.
Many growers were unable to repay the loans drawn from different banks. “The Coffee Board, which should address the growers’ problems, has remained silent. The board should approach the Ministry of Commerce and initiate measures to get relief to growers,” Mr. Thirthamallesh said.
The government should declare Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts as special zone and take up special programmes to encourage Arabica growers. The growers should be provided with 75 per cent subsidy to re-cultivate Arabica plants. Besides, the research institutes and universities should take up studies on finding a medicine to resolve the white borer attack issue, he said.
