Cauvery woes: Not just deficit, erratic distribution of rainfall a major concern in Kodagu

Farmers blame lack of consistency in rain pattern, which was regular for centuries, but is not being seen now due to the impact of climate change. The situation has been particularly bad this year. 

It is not just deficit monsoon that is worrying farmers in Kodagu, which is the main catchment area and place of origin of river Cauvery. This hilly district in Karnataka, which accounts for about 36% of India’s coffee production besides the country’s best quality pepper, is concerned over uneven distribution of rainfall. The planters here fear that uneven distribution during different months of the monsoon this year may result in loss of coffee and pepper crop to the tune of ₹850 crore. 

Bose Mandanna, former vice-chairman of Coffee Board and an expert on Kodagu’s climate, says the loss of ₹850 crore is a very conservative estimate arrived at by considering 25% loss in coffee yield, accounting for ₹750 crore, and 20% in pepper yield amounting to ₹100 crore. 

He observes that coffee requires 60 to 80 inches of evenly-distributed rain in a year. But of late, the rainfall has not been evenly distributed in various months in Kodagu. “It remains dry when we need rain, and it rains when it should be dry,” he says.

“We need blossom showers in February-March for Robusta variety of coffee, and in March-April for Arabica variety of coffee. If it rains during this time, then there is nearly 80% of assurance of good crop yield. After 20 days to a month later, we need backing showers. Later, when the fruits develop, we need further rains,” he explains. 

Such consistency in rain pattern, which was regular for centuries, is not being seen now due to the impact of climate change. The situation has been particularly bad this year, he notes. 

Referring to the cumulative deficit of 42% rainfall in South West Monsoon in Kodagu this year, he says, “It has created multiple problems of high temperature and lack of moisture. Coffee requires temperatures below 35 degree Celsius. While generally the temperatures are going up as an impact of climate change, the increase in temperature can be clearly felt this year due to deficit monsoon that has reduced moisture.”