Karwar: Farmers in the coastal regions of Karnataka have traditionally focused on cultivating paddy, areca nut, and banana. However, a couple from Anantwadi Gram Panchayat in Honnavar taluk, Bharati Yaji and her husband, have demonstrated that coffee cultivation is also possible in this region.
Bharati Yaji and her husband, who are primarily farmers, own a four-acre plantation where they have been cultivating crops such as black pepper, cardamom, and betel leaves. Driven by their passion for agricultural innovation, they decided to experiment with coffee cultivation under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). With support from the Horticulture Department, they became the first farmers in Uttara Kannada district to successfully grow coffee.
Under the MGNREGS scheme for 2024-25 (Project Code: 1527004/ IF /93393042894900245), the couple received an estimated financial aid of ₹98,000. They planted 1,000 coffee saplings in their two-acre areca nut plantation. Dedicating significant time to farming, they have nurtured these plants meticulously, ensuring proper irrigation, fertilization, and pest control.
Since coffee plants require a cool climate, they have been cultivated between areca nut trees. The saplings, sourced from Kerala, cost ₹70 per plant. The farmers have implemented a drip irrigation system and are using organic fertilizers, including slurry and manure, along with minimal chemical inputs to protect the plants from pests and diseases.
As this is the first coffee plantation in the district, the plants have just begun flowering. The couple is eagerly waiting to see the yield and its economic potential. Speaking about their experience, Bharati Yaji mentioned that they received full support and guidance from the Horticulture Department. They hope this experiment will encourage other farmers in the district to adopt coffee cultivation, potentially making it a key commercial crop in the future.
This successful venture highlights the potential for diversifying agriculture in coastal Karnataka, opening new avenues for farmers in the region.