Chikkamagaluru: The rich planters of Chikkamagaluru are worried now like never before as coffee plants nursed by them over the years are biting the dust in five days. The very reason behind this is the borer disease that strikes the plant like cancer. Probably, when coffee prices dropped in international market, they were not worried much, because there was some hope that the situation would improve. And to add to it, spraying any amount of pesticides has not helped in controlling the disease.
Out of 91,500 hectares coffee plantation in the district, 57000 is of Arabica and 31500 Robusta varieties. This year the disease has taken heavy toll on a larger scale on the very existence of the young plants by invading them without anyone’s knowledge. The coffee berry borer too can destroy the entire harvest area and the disease is prevalent in regions where Arabica is grown. The disease is wide spread as it is found in coffee growing areas of the district in Chikkamagaluru, Mudigeri, Shringeri and Koppa taluks.
Deadly pests
The borer beetles require high humid weather with longer period of bright sunshine for their emergence. They emerge more on sunny days following heavy rains. Beetles are active during the day time when the weather is bright and hot. Young plants succumb faster where as old plants can withstand a few seasons. Apart from causing crop loss, bore attack results in additional expenditure on replanting and maintenance.
Three types of borer
Stem borer, coffee berry borer and shot hole borer are the three types of pests which attack the plants. Among the three, White stem borer (Xylotrechus Quadripes) is of concern to the growers. To begin with, Arabica coffee infested plants show external ridges around the stem. Affected plants also show yellowing and wilting of leaves. The borers destroy raw seeds too and the spread will only be known at a later stage where little can be done to prevent and save the plant. The tiny insect which is hardly visible to the naked eye grows in size in few days time.
Few Solutions:
– Maintain optimum shade.
– Trace infested plants prior to flight periods (March and September), uproot and burn them.
– Remove loose scaly bark on the main stem and thick primaries using coir glove or coconut husk.
– Apply 10% lime solution on the main stem and thick primaries just before the flight period.
– Install pheromone traps in the highly infested blocks.
What next?
Planters and growers are upset with the coffee board for not finding a suitable solution to the problem despite its impact on the plantations in general and the economy as a whole. They are looking towards coffee board and other scientific organization involved in research to find a suitable solution in combating the borer disease that is causing widespread destruction in coffee plantations.
It’s a now or never situation, as hundreds of plants bite the dust on a daily basis. Growers feel that if no action is taken in quick time the coffee land may soon turn barren.
