Coffee plants are ideal solution for soil erosion as its roots go deeper into the ground and the plants grow close to each other. Even if there is a flood that lasts for more than two weeks, the roots of coffee plant is less likely to get rotted and so coffee can survive floods.
Following the immense changes in the climate and geographical structure of Kerala, coffee can be the best crop to be cultivated as it can survive flood, landslide and soil erosion.
Planting
Normally, coffee is planted from the middle of May. But considering the repeated floods here, it is better to plant coffee saplings after the heavy monsoon.
- The planting should be finished before August-September (Malayalam month of Chingam).
- Dig holes that have 1.5 feet depth and one feet width and length each.
- Use bone manure or rock phosphate as base fertilizer.
- Saplings less than one-year-old are ideal for planting.
- Upto 2000-2200 saplings can be planted in one-acre land.
- Coffee can be intercropped at rubber and coconut plantations.
- Coffee starts blooming from 18 months.
- Profit can be earned from third year of cultivation.
Though no subsidy is available for coffee cultivation, the government and the Coffee Board offers help for irrigation, processing and sales.
Apart from the Robusta coffee variety that was widely cultivated in Idukki and Wayanad, various types of coffee saplings suitable for the climate of all districts in the state are available now.
For more details, contact at: 9744517595.
