BERRY BORER: ALRMING COFFEE PLANTATION

Madikeri June 21: Berry borer disease is alarming coffee plantation in Kodagu district. Arabica coffee plantation is mainly grown in Somwarpet thaluk and north Kodagu. The disease makes the yield seedless and the empty cover is left without the coffee seed. The small worms dig the seeds and finish them. The worms grow fast. The generation doubles in 40 days and thousands of the worms destroy the whole yield in estates.

Somwarpet thaluk small growers association office bearers exhibited the borer affected coffee in a press conference at Somwarpet. They allege that the negligence of the coffee board in controlling the disease is condemnable. Board is least bothered about the affect and they just gave an advertisement in a newspaper informing the growers to be alerted. No measures were taken, survey is not done. The board is failed to do the field work- the association bearers criticized this attitude.

The association has urged the board to send teams to villages to alert the small growers. They demanded to supply of nets required to capture the worms. If the board did not respond, the next year Arabica yield will be less. If the berry borer coffee is exported it will have adverse affect on Indian coffee-warned office bearers.

Office bearers of the association B.M.Suresh, B.D.Manjunath,and S.N.Somshekhar were present in press conference

Photo: Berry borer affected coffee

TEENAGE LOVERS COMMIT SUICIED

Madikeri June 21: Teenage lovers commit suicide by jumping into the pond

in a paddy field in Gowdalli village. Chandan(19)was the student of Kavery college, Shanivarsanthe. He had completed PUC. Kavya, a minor(17) was studying II nd PUC in Vigneshwara college, Shanivarasanthe. She was the daughter of Satish of hanase village. Chandan was the son of Kushalappa of Gowdallai village. 2-3 days back Chandan told his parents that he will go to his college to bring the T.C, Kavya came from her house to PUC class as usual. But, both were missing afterwards. A villager found two dead bodies in the paddy field pond and informed villagers and police. The dead bodies are lifted and after conducting the post mortem bodies were cremated. Water animals ate the eyes and other parts of the dead bodies,when the bodies were lifted from the pond.