Coffee growers in Karnataka’s Kodagu region are pressing for relief after severe damage to this season’s crop. According to growers, Arabica and Robusta plantations have suffered heavy losses, with damage estimated at around 60% due to a combination of high temperatures, pest attacks and untimely rainfall.
The demand from farmers centers on a waiver of crop loans and related interest, as many growers face mounting financial stress after the setback. With production hit across key coffee varieties, cultivators say repayment pressure has intensified at a time when farm incomes are already under strain.
Growers are also calling for the repeal of the SARFAESI Act, arguing that strict recovery measures add to the burden on distressed farmers. Their appeal reflects broader concerns about how weather volatility and crop losses can quickly turn into a debt crisis for plantation owners and small growers alike.
The situation in Kodagu highlights the risks facing India’s coffee sector as climate-related stress and pest issues affect output and farm finances. Any response on loan relief and debt recovery rules is likely to be closely watched by growers dealing with the fallout from this year’s damaged crop.
