Dakshina Kannada MP seeks Union Minister’s intervention to cultivate coffee in the district

Mangaluru: In light of the challenges faced by farmers in Dakshina Kannada due to declining arecanut yields, Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta has appealed to the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, urging the Coffee Board of India to extend its support and resources to the district’s agricultural community.

Captain Brijesh Chowta has written to Union Minister Piyush Goyal seeking his intervention to facilitate the growing of coffee in the district. Explaining the issue, the MP said that farmers have been significantly impacted by adverse weather conditions, diseases like the yellow leaf disease and bud rot disease among others, and pests affecting arecanut crops.

To mitigate these issues and diversify agricultural practices, many are considering coffee cultivation, which aligns well with the local climate. However, the absence of facilities and support from the Coffee Board and the Central Coffee Research Institute, readily available in neighbouring districts like Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu, pose a substantial barrier.

“This issue is mainly owing to the region not being one where coffee is a “traditional crop” say farmers who have already shifted to or intend to do so, but face difficulties owing to lack of support, subsidies and systemic aid for both the cultivation and sale of the produce,” said Capt Brijesh Chowta.

“We need to encourage our farmers and explore prospects of growing coffee especially in Sullia, Puttur and Beltangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada” he added.

If our region is also provided the required support, it will help our farmers shift to coffee and make good the losses they are facing from areca cultivation, especially with the increasing instances of various diseases that are not just destroying the prevalent crop but also on the long run rendering the soil unfit for cultivation in many areas, he said.