White stem borer major concern for coffee planters

The rising incidence of White Stem Borer (WSB) attack in Arabica coffee appears to be a serious concern for the coffee planters in the country.
The incidence was peculiar to India and it flared up due to erratic rainfall and increased temperature, Jawaid Akhtar, Chairman, Coffee Board, said at a Commodity Outlook session, organised by United Planters Association of Southern India, preceding its Annual Conference,scheduled for tomorrow, here.
Stating that nearly 50 per cent of Arabica coffee area in Karnataka recorded high incidence of WSB during this year, he said about 35 lakh coffee plants have been affected and uprooted, because of the drought conditions for the second consecutive year.

"If rains are not sufficient, we may be forced to remove one lakh plants, affected by WSB," he said.
In order to tackle the menace, the Board has initiated a research in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, as there has been major emphasis on management of WSB since 2011, he said.
"We have submitted an action plan to the Ministry on catch and kill, gap filling, community nurseries, mission mode programme and supply of pheromone traps," he said.