The dearth of summer rains has pushed farmers, especially coffee and black pepper farmers in Wayanad district, a major black pepper and Robusta coffee growing region in the State, to the brink of a crisis
According to the rainfall data available from the Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS) under the Kerala Agriculture University at Amabalavayal, many parts of the district received a rainfall of 29.3 mm in first week of January. Since then no rainfall has been received in the district.
The early showers received in the first week of January had resulted in the blossoming of Robusta coffee plants and the proper fruit set due to adequate sub-soil moisture status, says Anantha Gowda, a coffee planter at Panamaram in the district. But the absence of backup showers, a major factor in the formation of berries, is a concern among farmers, Mr Gowda said.
