Hassan: Erratic and inadequate rainfall has led to a steep fall in coffee production in Hassan, Madikeri and Chikkamagaluru districts with the Arabica plantations reporting an yield of only around 300 kgs as against the around 900 kgs they are accustomed to seeing in a good rainfall year.

“The coffee growing areas of the state usually receive 80 inches of rain, but we have had only 40 inches this year. Dry weather has not only cut production, but also led to more widespread White Stem Borer disease in the plantations,” said Mr Jayaram, president, Karnataka Growers Federation, explaining that the scanty rainfall of May, June and July and again October and November was to blame for the planters’ plight.

In the absence of adequate rain, the coffee cherries too have been affected as they are relatively smaller than usual, according to him. “The poor rain has hit the growth of the coffee plants,” he added.

Confirming the situation, a coffee planter , Mohan, lamented that the cherries on his plantation spread across 50 acres in Huradi village, Sakleshpur, Hassan, were of poor quality this year.

“I have spent about Rs 60,000 per acre on my Arabica plantation, but am not getting an adequate return,” he regretted.

Besides the poor rain the growers are also affected by the fluctuating coffee price in the international market and are praying for more stable conditions to recover their loss.