Production of plantation crops like tea, pepper, cardamom and coffee is likely to decline substantially due to the prolonged dry spell in the plantation regions of South India. According to the data provided by the Chennai-based Regional Meteorological Centre, rainfall in the four southern states during the first three months of the current year is substantially below the normal.
In Karnataka, which has large tracts of coffee plantations, the rainfall during the period of January to 21 March is 93% below normal. Rainfall in Tamil Nadu is lower by 70% for the period, while in Andhra Pradesh, the deficiency is 89%. Similarly, the plantation regions of Kerala, which include Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Wayanad, are showing below normal rainfall for the period.
?Frost and then dry spell in the plantation regions is likely to reduce the production of tea and coffee. According to our estimates, tea production in South India will be lower by 4-5 million than the normal production for the first two months of the year,? United Planters Association of South India (Upasi) commodities head R Sanjith said.
Coffee is likely to be worst hit as blossoming of the crop depends on the summer showers received during February and March. Summer showers better known as ?blossom showers? are crucial for flowering and seed formation. Lesser or no rains in Wayanad and Idukki districts have led to high daytime temperature and rapid decline in the water table. ?Wayanad is scorching under heat and any delay in the rains could cause huge damage to the crop,? Anand MV, a farmer from Wayanad told FE.
Kerala accounts for about 25% of the country?s coffee production and 21% of the total cultivating area. Wayanad produces 82 % of Kerala?s coffee, with the robusta variety accounting for almost 98% of the total output. ?The drought may negatively impact all crops. For some crops, the carry-over effect will be spread to 2-3 years,? K Satheesh Babu of Agricultural Market Intelligence Centre (AMIC) of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) said. Cardamom crop will be lower for the next season, he added.
Cardamom needs low temperature, high humidity and incessant drizzles. Heavy rains could damage the crop, while intermittent rains that keep the atmosphere humid augur well. Pepper vines get damaged due to the prolonged dry spell and yield suffers, he added.