White stem borer back in coffee plantations

Chikmagalur, Hassan, Kodagu report attacks of pest in Arabica plantations

Coffee growing regions in Karnataka have reported severe incidences of white stem borer (WSB) in the last few months, which is likely to result in a sharp drop in production this year.

According to planters, the WSB attack is so severe that many estates have resorted to uprooting of Arabica trees to avoid further spread of the borer.

“There is a severe incidence in Arabica Coffee Plantations in Chikmagalur, Hassan and Kodagu districts in the State,” Karnataka Planters’ Association (KPA) Chairman D Govindappa Jayaram said in a statement.

The severe incidence is due to continuous dry weather from October 2013 to April 2014 and high temperature this summer during April-May as high as 38 degrees Celsius, he said.

The Blossom Rains were also highly delayed and it rained only during the first week of April. This was conducive to the Borer to be active to breed and spread, he said.

The KPA has written to the Chairman of Coffee Board to make a survey of the affected areas and take stock of the situation. The association has req-uested the Board to write to the state government to declare and publish the areas affected by White Stem Borer in Chikmagalur, Hassan and Kodagu districts as White Stem Borer affected areas. This will help in effectively controlling the severe WSB incidence, Jayaram said.

The Coffee Board has already conducted a survey in the growing regions and initiated remedial measures.

“We have initiated a Mission Mode Programme to tackle the problem. We have told the farmers to take a set of measures that includes tracing, pruning and uprooting of the infested crops,” said Jawaid Akhtar, Chairman, Coffee Board.

He said the Board would provide financial assistance to farmers in case of block replanting. “We are waiting for the government of India approval for a hike in the subsidy amount of Rs 1.75 lakh per hectare during the 12th plan for block replanting with high yielding varieties,” he said.

The incidence of WSB is severe in Chikmagalur, Mudigere and Tarikere Taluks, the Arabica Coffee growing areas of Hassan district. In Kodagu district, one of the largest Arabica growing Taluk, the entire Somwarpet Taluk is the worst affected.

High incidents are also reported from Virajpet and Arabica growing areas of Madikeri Taluks.

Jayaram said the borer ridden Arabica plants in more than 40 per cent area are being uprooted. Loads of WSB affected stems are being transported for use as firewood. It is said this severe WSB incidence was not seen in the last 40 years.

The pheromone traps prescribed are not effective and have not helped in trapping the Borer beetles, the KPA said.