Warming World Poses Major Threats To S. Indian Coffee Growers

[hatrack]

The coffee industry is likely to get clobbered by global warming. According to scientists, over the next two decades, the quality and quantity of coffee beans will suffer, and costs will escalate.

HN Ravindranath of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute Science, revealed this at a workshop on ‘Biodiversity and Sustainable Coffee Farming in India’, organised by the Coffee Board of India, Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI). Ravindranath said that 67% of Karnataka’s forests are vulnerable to climate change; the effects will be less severe inKerala and Tamil Nadu. Biodiversity will shrink as a result of changes, and many species risk extinction.

Dr Jayarama, director of research, CCRI, said that though coffee plantations form a part of the biodiversity, they do not support natural biodiversity. Citing the example of planting Silver Oak in coffee estates, he said that it does not provide shelter to birds and is not a native tree species.

Addressing the rising cost of coffee and labour issues, Coffee Board chairman Jawaid Akhtar added that escalating cost could be due to many reasons like opening stocks, production, exports, investment and funds. He said, “We (Karnataka) are one of the richest areas where coffee is grown. Along with coffee, other crops are also grown, making it a mix of plantations.”

EDIT

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_climate-change-brews-coffee-trouble-in-southern-states_1487501

[aquart]

1. Not my COFFEE!

Drown my city, take my coffee...am I to be spared NOTHING?

[DCKit]

2. Perhaps this particular consequence of climage change is what's needed....

to get our attention.

[hatrack]

3. But what if we're too sleepy to respond?

:evilgrin:

[kestrel91316]

4. I spoke at length to a ND farmer yesterday on the plane home and he said

corn is becoming an increasingly viable crop up there. IN NORTH DAKOTA. Land of barley, spring wheat, and canola.