New Delhi: Legendary athlete and Rajya Sabha member P.T. Usha on Wednesday highlighted the mounting crisis facing coffee growers and labourers in Kerala's Wayanad district during the Zero Hour proceedings in the Upper House.

Wayanad, a vital hub for India's coffee production and rural employment, is grappling with multiple challenges that threaten the livelihoods of thousands of planters, Usha said.

A key concern she raised was the escalating human-wildlife conflict, with wild animals increasingly raiding coffee plantations, causing crop losses and endangering human lives. Usha explained that forests in the region have exceeded their carrying capacity, forcing animals to seek food and shelter in plantations. She urged scientific wildlife management measures in coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Kerala Forest Department to prevent irreversible damage.

Usha also criticised flawed crop insurance mechanisms, which fail to provide adequate compensation amid rising climate challenges, including droughts, floods, and erratic rainfall. She called for the Coffee Board to convene a joint stakeholder meeting to reform insurance norms and ensure timely payouts to farmers.

Another major issue she highlighted was the acute shortage of labour, which is crippling plantation operations. With Indian coffee farms relying heavily on outdated manual methods, Usha stressed the need for mechanisation and promoted terrain-specific machinery, modern equipment, and a mobile platform to connect growers with workers.

She further flagged interference with irrigation during critical blossom periods, where local authorities restrict even private water sources, putting plantations at risk. Usha called for clear legal guidelines to prevent such arbitrary actions.

Looking ahead, Usha proposed transforming Indian coffee farms into “AI-enabled smart farms” by 2030, integrating technology, sustainability, and precision agriculture for the next generation.

She said, "Despite Robusta coffee receiving Geographical Indication (GI) tag status, growers lack access to quality evaluation and global recognition."

She recommended annual cupping competitions and awareness programmes supported by the Coffee Board.