Stem borer hits 700 acres of coffee plantation

Madikeri, Karnataka, July 26 (UNI) Arabica coffee grown in about 700 hectares of land at Somwarpet taluk in the hilly district of Kodagu in Karnataka has been hit by Stem Borer, giving a hard time to the planters.

According to experts, the planters would have to face a heavy loss as the plants ffected by stem borer have to be uprooted and burnt.

The Coffee Board had strictly warned the growers to destroy the affected plants and avail assistance for replanting. Action would be initiated against those who do not destroy the plants, it had cautioned.

The stem borer attack had compounded the woes of the plantation community, already facing problems like hike in manure and labour cost, mounting farm loans and dearth of manpower.

The country produced around 98,580 tonnes of Arabica and 1,83,350 tonnes of Robusta coffee. Karnataka stood third in producing coffee in the country with 1,99,200 tonnes last year. In Kodagu, Robusta was grown in 73,795 hectares and Arabica in 26,830 hectares.

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