Monday, Sept. 9: Due to the heavy rains that have fallen this year, the major crops of Kodagu, including coffee, black pepper, cardamom, orange and areca nuts, have been partially damaged, and in some places the damage has exceeded 70 percent. Despite this, the local MLAs, the district administration and the state government have not taken any remedial measures, and the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have demanded that the state government immediately announce a special package to protect the interests of coffee growers.
Former MLAs M.P. Appachu Ranjan, K.G. Bopaiah, BJP District President Napanda Ravi Kalappa and other leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party visited the villages of Tholur Shettalli, Shantalli, Bettadalli, Haraga, Surlabbi of Garwale Gram Panchayat in Somwarpet taluk, Mukkodlu of Makkandur Panchayat, Galibidu of Galibidu Panchayat, and Kalur villages in Galibidu Panchayat, where the crops were damaged due to heavy rainfall, and personally inspected the crop loss. In areas that receive an average of 100 to 120 inches of rainfall, more than 160 to 200 inches of rainfall have already occurred. As a result, Arabica and Robusta coffee have fallen in large quantities and the soil has become muddy. In some places, the leaves of the coffee plants have also fallen, resulting in a 70% crop loss. It is impossible for the plants to recover. Even if they look for black pepper, it seems that it is not there. Cardamom has rotted and oranges have disappeared. The areca nut crop has been damaged due to extreme cold. The leaders expressed their dissatisfaction that despite the series of difficulties faced by the growers, the local district administration, MLAs and the state government have shown negligence by not taking action for their relief.
The coffee plantation belonging to the C.K. Shivakumar family in Tholur Shettalli and the coffee plantation belonging to A.R. Changappa in Nagaralli village of Bettadalli gram panchayat were damaged due to heavy rains, and the former MLAs expressed their anger at the government's negligence.
Farmers should stand up for their protection
Speaking on this occasion, former MLA from Madikeri constituency M.P. Appachchu Ranjan said that Arabica coffee has been damaged in large quantities due to the heavy rains that have been pouring since the last week of May. The coffee has also fallen along with the leaves of the plants. The remaining coffee will lose its quality. The growers are in great distress. Urea was applied before flowering, then other fertilizers, and special fertilizers were also applied. However, he said that everything is soiled due to rain.
Since there are no leaves on the plants, there will be no coffee harvest for the next two years. Such plants should be pruned. Coffee will come only after the new shoots appear. Instead of using NDRF and SDRF funds for other purposes, they should be given as compensation to the farmers. They should bring other funds for roads. They demanded that the government should immediately stand up for the protection of the farmers.
During the previous BJP government, we gave a total of 208 crores, including 66 crores once and 142 crores again, as compensation to 55,000 growers in Kodagu. The current government should immediately give 80 thousand compensation to each grower in the district. They demanded that a special package be announced to protect the coffee growers.
A survey should be conducted
Former MLA from Virajpet constituency K.G. Bopaiah said that the crops have been destroyed due to double the rainfall than usual. He accused the district administration, in-charge minister and MLAs of not conducting any survey regarding the compensation.
A joint survey involving the Coffee Board, Revenue and Horticulture departments should have been conducted and a report submitted to the government. When we were in power, we provided continuous relief for three years. Unfortunately, the current government is not responding to the farmers' problems, he said.
The MLAs are only immersed in propaganda. While driving on roads built during the BJP period, they are saying that there has been no development on the roads for the last 25 years, Bopaiah sarcastically said, adding that money has been released for rain damage relief through the Central Government's NDRF. Currently, the District Collector's account has a grant of Rs. 37 crore. What are they doing with this money? He questioned. Arabica and Robusta have been damaged to a large extent. The government should respond in such a situation. The MLAs and the district administration should wake up. A survey should be conducted immediately and a report should be submitted to the government. The current government is not doing anything other than saying guarantees. Bopaiah demanded that action be taken for relief.
Farmers should come to their aid
BJP District President Napanda Ravi Kalappa said; Farmers are suffering losses due to continuous rains for four months. Farmers are finding it difficult to make a living and are not in a position to farm. In this regard, a tour will be conducted and a report will be submitted to the state and central governments. The government should provide appropriate compensation. Farmers' loans should be waived. People's representatives should also respond and come to the aid of farmers, he said. Former Legislative Council member S.G. Medappa, BJP District General Secretary Mahesh Jaini, Spokesperson Arun Kumar, Mandal BJP President Gautam Gowda, Krishi Morcha District General Secretary Sarathchandra, Mandal President Machchanda Prakash, Mandal BJP General Secretary S.R. Somesh, Yuva Morcha President Mahesh Thimmaiah, General Secretary Dean Bopanna, party leaders Manukumar Rai, Darshan Joyappa, K.K. Sudhakar, Mokshik Raj, Praveen, Lingaraju, Premsagar, Madhukumar, Vijayakumar and others were present.
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