As monsoon rains falter, Wayanad farmers in Kerala fear poor harvest
Farmers in Wayanad, Kerala, are reporting poor crop development for pepper and coffee due to a significant rainfall deficit in June. Experts attribute the weak southwest monsoon to climate change and El Niño, raising concerns about the upcoming harvest.
Why it matters
Agriculture is a primary economic driver in Wayanad, and climate-induced rainfall volatility threatens the livelihoods of local farmers and regional food security.
Rows of Robusta coffee plants, pepper vines winding around trees and fruit-laden exotic plants lend a picture-postcard charm to Baby John’s 6.5-acre plantation at Ambalavayal in Wayanad, Kerala. But beneath the lush green canopy, the signs of a faltering monsoon are unmistakable. Pepper spikes have emerged but remain underdeveloped, coffee berries are developing unevenly, and the veteran farmer fears the poor southwest monsoon could significantly reduce this season’s harvest.
The article reports on agricultural conditions and meteorological data without political framing or loaded language.
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