ARABICA COFFEE HIT BY STEM BORER;

Madikeri July 26, 2006

As much as 700 hectares of Arabica coffee in the district is hit by Stem Borer attack. The effect is noticed mostly at Somwarpet taluk and the planters here are worried about their future.

According to experts, the plants affected by stem borer have to be uprooted and burnt. The Coffee Board has laid strict instructions to destroy the effected plants and avail assistance for replanting. The board has also cautioned against the planters who ignore their guidelines. Action would be initiated against those who do not destroy the plants.

The plantation community is facing multiple problems like hike in manure cost, labour cost, and shortage of labours along with stem borer. The planters opine that the labourers who used to stay in their line houses are now shifting to towns, looking for better jobs.

Kodagu produces major portion of coffee grown in India. Country produces around 98,580 tons of Arabica and 1, 83,350 tons of Robusta coffee. Karnataka stands third in producing coffee with 1, 99,200 tons of coffee produced during last year.

Coffee is spread in more than one lakh hectares in Kodagu. Robusta is grown in 73, 795 hectares and Arabica is grown in 26,830 hectares in Kodagu. Contribution of Kodagu is highest in the production of Coffee in India.

Planters strapped with loans and battered by drawbacks are looking for assistance from the government as re plantation will take quite some time to reap the fruit.

Picture: Robusta Coffee plants being burnt.

PEOPLE THREATEN IMMOLATION;

Villagers of Kannagala Gram Panchayath near Siddapur have demanded resignation of the elected body and threatened to immolate themselves on August fifteenth, if it is not done before that.

Pandemonium broke in the Gram panchayath meeting held at Kannangala yesterday as the secretary began to read report. The villagers went wild and alleged that the Panchayath administration is giving all false reports. They blocked the meeting and demanded the nodel officer to witness the large scale misappropriations committed during construction and other works by verifying the evidences.

President Suresh maintained long silence, irking the public who demanded explanation. They unfurled the allegations one by one. Rupees twenty five thousand was released to a support wall to be built in Sc St area. But the same was built at a lower cost some where else. Rupees 19, 680 was shown as tree planting cost around a school. Not a single tree is planted in that area. Rs.29 thousand was drawn to dig seven open wells. But they have shown only existing wells as new ones. People listed out schemes which never took off, but money was drawn in their name. they took Nodel officer Malleswamy to the spot. Elected representatives disappered one by one from the meeting hall, even before the meeting was closed. Police interference brought the situation under control.