Heavy and continuous rainfall has severely damaged the upcoming arecanut crop in Karnataka, with farmers already losing a significant portion of their yield to fruit rot disease (Kole Roga).
The situation is particularly dire in key arecanut-growing districts such as Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, and Chikkamagaluru, where rainfall has exceeded seasonal norms.
Despite repeated spraying of fungicides, the unrelenting rains have triggered a widespread outbreak of the disease, rendering farmers’ efforts largely ineffective. With nearly half the crop lost and further damage likely, CAMPCO President A. Kishore Kumar Kodgi has submitted a formal appeal to the Chief Minister of Karnataka, urging the state government to conduct a scientific survey of the crop damage and release timely compensation.
CAMPCO also called for immediate relief measures to protect the livelihoods of affected growers. Representing thousands of farmers, Kodgi voiced hope that the government would act urgently to address this crisis and support the struggling farming community in recovering from this climate-driven setback.
