An arecanut farm in Mangaluru.
| Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH
With coastal Karnataka recording a 29% rainfall deficit, according to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), paddy cultivation in the region has still not picked up despite rains intensifying in early July.If rain continues to play truant, two major crops of the region — coconut and arecanut — will face the risk of low yields.K. Balachandra Hebbar, director of ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod, Kerala, told The Hindu that rainfall deficit in the coastal region might result in an increase in whitefly menace in coconut plantations. When temperatures go up and moisture levels drop in coconut palms, whiteflies multiply.On the other hand, coconut plantations in districts such as Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Tumakuru, Mandya, Ramanagara and Mysuru are likely to witness an increase in the menace of black-headed caterpillars, Mr. Hebbar said.Impact on arecanut‘Kole roga’ (fruit rot disease) in arecanut plantations is associated with constant heavy rainfall. Scanty rainfall might protect arecanut farms from the disease. But farmers will have to be prepared to face another risk. “Deficit rainfall will result in increased nut shedding in arecanut plantations, thus affecting production,” Mr. Hebbar said.This will be another blow to many arecanut farmers whose farms have already been hit by yellow leaf disease and leaf spot disease.The director said the CPCRI had already informed Karnataka Horticulture Department officials about the precautionary measures to be taken to deal with diseases and pest threats in the plantations.
