Mangaluru: Facing challenges from declining arecanut yields, Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta has called on Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, to intervene and help promote coffee cultivation in the district. In a letter addressed to Goyal, Chowta highlighted the severe impact of adverse weather, diseases like yellow leaf disease and bud rot, and pests on arecanut crops, which have been devastating local farmers.
Many farmers in the region are looking to diversify their crops and are considering switching to coffee, which is better suited to the local climate. However, they face significant barriers due to the lack of support and infrastructure. Unlike neighboring districts like Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada lacks access to resources from the Coffee Board of India and the Central Coffee Research Institute, which are crucial for coffee cultivation.
Chowta explained that although coffee is not traditionally grown in Dakshina Kannada, farmers who have made the switch or plan to do so are struggling without proper government assistance, subsidies, or guidance. “The absence of support systems for both cultivation and the sale of coffee is a major hurdle,” he said.
The MP emphasized the potential for coffee cultivation in the regions of Sullia, Puttur, and Beltangady in Dakshina Kannada. “If the region receives the necessary support, it can help farmers transition to coffee, mitigating the losses from arecanut farming, especially with the increasing prevalence of diseases that not only damage crops but also degrade the soil in many areas,” he said.
Chowta urged the Union Minister to take prompt action to provide the much-needed support to Dakshina Kannada’s agricultural community and help farmers shift to a more sustainable crop.
Related Topics:
- BRCC Boosts Profits with Strong Wholesale Growth in Q3
- FCB Coffee Joins The Nero Group’s Growing UK Portfolio
- AI-Powered Tech Set to Revolutionize Global Food Quality