India - Excess rains to dampen coffee output this year

23.10.2019 139 views
The latest wet spell triggered by a low pressure in the Arabian Sea is set to add to the crop losses of coffee growers in the key producing States of Karnataka and Kerala, which are already reeling under the impact of erratic rainfall this year. This is even as the early ripened beans of the arabica variety are ready for harvest across the major growing districts of Chikmagaluru and Kodagu in Karnataka. While growers see a sharp production decline for the 2019-20 season, the state-run Coffee Board is still in the process of surveying the crop size. Since the beginning of the 2019-20 season, the crop has been facing setbacks due to the erratic weather pattern. If the uneven blossom showers impacted the flowering and the crop setting in the early part of the year, the unusual high temperatures during the summer — that led to a flare-up in white stem borer infestation — also hit the crop. Further, the unprecedented and continuous heavy rains in August-September triggered wet feet conditions and also led to berry droppings. With the latest spell of rains, the crop losses could be as high as 30-35 per cent this year, said Shirish Vijayendra, Vice-Chairman of the Karnataka Planters Association (KPA). Karnataka accounts for about 70 per cent of the country’s output. The Board had estimated the 2018-19 crop at 3.19 lakh tonnes, of which 95,000 was arabicas, with robustas accounting for the rest. “It is not just the berry dropping in arabicas that’s hurting the output. The leaf shedding triggered by the wet spell in robustas, that will eventually lead to the drying up of beans on the branches without ripening, will also have an impact on the overall crop size,” Vijayendra added.

Berry droppings

Upasi Chairman AL RM Nagappan said it is too early to comment on the crop size as it is still raining in the producing regions. “There has been an impact on the crop size due to the berry droppings. A clearer picture will emerge once the rains stop,” he said. The Met has forecast continuous rains over the next few days. Till date in October, Chikmagaluru has received 122 per cent excess rains, while Hassan and Kodagu have received a surplus of 73 per cent and 40 per cent respectively, according to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre. The South-West monsoon was surplus by 22 per cent in Chikmagalur, 56 per cent in Hassan and 8 per cent in Kodagu. UM Thirth Mallesh, President of the Karnataka Growers Federation, which mostly represents the small growers in the State, said the crop damages due to excess rains are to the tune of 45-50 per cent. This is based on the federation’s assessment of the crop and interaction with growers across the three districts, he said. N Bose Mandanna, a large grower in Suntikoppa, said the rains have interrupted operations such as spraying, weeding and manuring, which will again hit yields. He said growers of early harvested arabicas are facing issues in drying the beans. The full scale harvest of arabicas is set to begin from early November. Source - https://www.thehindubusinessline.com
28.03.2024

Canada - How Sask.'s new budget does and doesn't address climate change

The world is facing record heat from human-caused climate change brought on by carbon dioxide and methane emissions, but the words "climate change" don't appear once in Saskatchewan's newly released 75-page 2024-25 budget.

28.03.2024

Kenya - How crop insurance is transforming agriculture

Kenyan farmers continue to face challenges due to unpredictable weather conditions. As a result, they are turning to insurance coverage for their crops and livestock. Insurance experts have reported that most farmers who are insuring their crops are smallholders who rely on rain-fed agriculture and use low-technology farming methods.

28.03.2024

USA - How spring temperature fluctuations, early blooms are impacting Centre County fruit farmers

Plenty of people in Centre County got outside to enjoy temperatures in the 60s and 70s earlier this month, but spring weather fluctuations continue to cause concern for local fruit farmers.

28.03.2024

USA - Farmers use helicopters to warm crops amid spring freezes

An early spring this year means more work for farmers as early blooms face freezing temperatures. Les Dozier's Sta-N-Step Farms has served Northwest Arkansas since 1989. His farm is one of many facing freezing temperatures that could ruin crops.

28.03.2024

Ireland - Potato will be scarce by June, farmers praying for rain to stop

Farmers have to "watch, hope and pray" for a "sweet spot" of dry weather in the coming weeks or many will have to debate whether to plant at all this year. As continuous rainfall adds to already saturated ground, many big and small potato farmers are warning that the Irish favourite variety of Rooster may be in scarce supply by June.

28.03.2024

USA - Several metro Atlanta counties declared natural disaster zones after severe drought

More than 30 Georgia counties — including 10 in metro Atlanta — have been designated “primary natural disaster areas” by the United States Department of Agriculture, the agency announced Thursday.

27.03.2024

Turkey - Climate change may affect grape cultivation

A recent study has highlighted the impact of the climate crisis on viticulture in Turkey, predicting that the expected rise in temperatures and reduced rainfall could shift the suitability of vineyard regions for grape production over the next three decades.

27.03.2024

Crop crisis reveals El Niño’s toll on Southern Africa

New findings from the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (Enso) reference group highlight the significant impact of the 2023/24 El Niño event on various aspects of climate and agriculture in Southern Africa.

istanbul escort şişli escort tbilisi escort şişli escort şişli escort maslak escort istanbul escort beşiktaş escort taksim escort izmir escort ümraniye escort mecidiyeköy escort şişli escort taksim escort ümraniye escort kartal escort şirinevler escort maltepe escort istanbul escort ümraniye escort kadıköy escort vip escort mersin escort istanbul escorts ataköy escort avcılar escort beylikdüzü escort okmeydanı escort şişli escort tuzla escort işitme cihazı sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop