Photo: ManoramaKalpetta: Coffee Board issued a set of guidelines to coffee planters in Wayanad district asking to adopt special farming methods as monsoon has set in. It suggests planting shade trees, control of waste growth, nursery care, control of pests etc.
Plants attain better growth in the season and so it is essential to keep the plants compact by chopping off overgrown branches and sprigs. The stem area of the plant should be allowed to have proper air circulation and sunlight by trimming branches in half a feet radius.
Arrangements to be made in the nurseries to drain off excess rainwater to prevent water-logging. In farms that have too much shade, branches of the trees should be cut off to let in more sunlight.
Small pits should be dug up at intervals in sloping land. On flat land, water should be diverted to ponds or other storage pits to avoid water-logging.
Buveria Basiyatha pesticide can be sprinkled on plants to prevent pests. In new farms, priority should be given to high class robusta varieties like S-274 and C x R.
