Unseasonal rain spoils crop in Kerala

The harvesting and processing of crops like coffee, cardamom and pepper has been badly hit by abnormal rainfall in the state. Incessant rainfall in the last couple of weeks stopped the plucking of coffee and pepper crop. It also damaged a major part of the crop in the state, especially in the Idukki district.

Growers said rainfall in the midst of the winter season is quite uncommon and this would impact the production of spices and coffee. The cloudy atmosphere hinders the processing of crops especially drying of crops due to absence of sunlight.

Benny Abraham, a pepper grower said majority his crop was damaged due to unseasonal rain. He is not in a position to pluck the ripe pepper and would rot on vines. Because of labour shortage, farmers are unable to pluck the pepper quickly. Rain has upset the production cycle of cardamom also. Due to the rain fresh panicles are coming out of suckers, which normally happens in May-June, when the monsoon commences. Branches of these panicles will start flowering within next couple of weeks and if rain stops and summer begins all these flowers will dry up.