BJP Netas Urge Govt to Conduct Crop Loss Survey

KODAGU BJP leaders, including former MLAs, visited rain-affected areas in Somwarpet to inspect the crop loss on Tuesday.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Madikeri

The leaders alleged that the state is not concerned about the welfare of coffee growers and is instead boosting about guarantees. They demanded the immediate release of crop compensation, stating that several coffee estates have recorded over 70% crop loss.

Former MLAs Appachu Ranjan and K G Bopaiah, BJP district president Napanda Ravi Kalappa and other leaders visited several villages in Somwarpet taluk, including Tholur Shettalli, Shantalli, Bettadalli and Garwale gram panchayats.

These areas have received incessant rainfall during the monsoon this year. The BJP leaders claimed that 70% of coffee yield has been destroyed in the rain across several estates and said that even cardamom and pepper crops have suffered damages.

"Several crops have been destroyed completely and due to the heavy rain that has been pouring since the last week of May, Arabica coffee has suffered a huge loss. Along with the leaves of the plants, the coffee beans too have dropped. The remaining coffee will lose its quality," opined Appachu Ranjan, former Madikeri MLA. He explained that the growers have also lost money as fertilisers applied to nourish the plants were also washed off in the rain.