BEEKEEPING AFFECTED BY FRESH DISEASE

Madikeri March 26 A few years back beekeeping in Kodagu was severely affected by “Thai sac brood” disease. The disease was said to have come from Thailand. Kodagu beekeepers had lost hope in the industry and they stopped beekeeping..Since a year again the industry was rejuvenated. “Coorg Honey” gained momentum. Villagers restarted beekeeping. As a curse to the beekeepers another unknown disease is now attacking the industry. Suddenly, the honey bees are seen dieing in groups .Even, experts could not analyse the reason for the death of bees in large number. The affect is mainly visible in Bhagamandala,Galibeedu,Kalur,Surlabbi villages. The history of Kodagu reveals the fame in coffee, cardamom, orange and honey. The diseases affected in these fields have shaken the existence.

The mandarin cultivation was deteriorated due to citrus viral. Again slowly it is regaining.. The Kodagu orange society at Gonikoppal is also encouraging the orange growers by purchasing the product.

Growers started uprooting the cardamom plants and in place they planted coffee for survival. Disease called “Katte” has killed the cardamom growing in Kodagu. The central spice research centre situated in Appangala near here could not do anything to find out remedial measures to control the disease. At present the disease “Katte” is not seen and slowly cardamom growers are replanting in their fields. The Kodagu Cardamom cooperative society which was defunct earlier is getting recharged with the new management. The society has come forward with some helpful projects to the cardamom growers.

Coffee is survived in the midst of several worst diseases like berry borer, stem borer etc; The growers have no other go than removing and burning such plants and again replanting as replacing measure.

Another crop pepper which is a creeper plant is also affected by cold and swampy weather. Wilt disease is lessening the yield. This year the yield is better. The unreason rain since two weeks has damaged the picked coffee kept for drying. The good quality coffee is also turned blackish due to cool temperature. The rain for one or two days is better for coffee blossoming during the period. But, due to continuous rain, the blossom flowers are dropped and the future yield will be reduced.

Photo: Dead honey bees

MURDERED AT BANGALORE

Madikeri March 26 :A person from Kunjila village ,Kodagu district, doing business at Yashwantpura ,Bangalore was murdered at Bangalore. Usman(38) was running a shop and carrying bag selling. He was killed on 24th night by unknown persons who have assaulted through weapons. Usman was working in Malasia a few years back and had returned.. The police guess the connivance of his close friends in the incident. They think money transaction dispute is the main cause.The deceased Usman left his mother,wife and two children,

BOPAIAH –RANJAN BJP CANDIDATES

Madikei March 26 The ex. M.L.A K.G.Bopaiah and Appachu Ranjan have been elected by the BJP high command to contest coming elections in Kodagu. K.G.Bopaiah, who won for the first time during last elections from BJP in Madikeri constituency is elected to contest from Virajpet constituency this time. Appachu Ranjan who lost to B.A.Jeevijaya of congress in Somwarpet constituency in the last elections has been elected from BJP to contest from Madikeri constituency. H.D.Basavaraju who won from Virajpet in last elections from BJP has been skipped off. Kodagu has been reduced to two constituencies after the announcement of D-Limitation. Major portion of Somwarpet taluk is covered in Madikeri constituency and many portion of Madikeri thaluk is included in Virajpet constituency after the D-Limitation.