Deekshitula Subrahmanyam Araku Valley (ASR District)

TheAlluri Sitarama Raju district administration has drawn up a field-level action plan to check the spread of coffee berry borer, a pest that can cause serious damage to coffee plantations. As part of this action plan a special survey planned across 35 tribal villages covering nearly 2,500 acres. This aims to protect the interests of coffee growers in the agency area and minimise the impact of coffee berry borer on production and bean quality. District collector T Nishanthi has directed officials to identify the pest in its early stages and take scientific control measures to protect growers from crop losses. She reviewed the situation with Horticulture and Agriculture departments, DRDA, Coffee Project, APCNF, and Coffee Board, and discussed the field survey, and measures to contain the pest.

The survey will cover selected coffee plantations in Araku Valley and Dumbriguda mandals. Fifty teams have been formed for the exercise, with each team comprising a coffee liaison worker, an ICRP and a VOA. Each team has been assigned a target of surveying 20 acres a day, and the exercise scheduled to continue for four days. The teams have been instructed to inspect plantations and record the presence and intensity of coffee berry borer, the affected area and other relevant details. The Collector directed officials to identify pest hotspots and give them priority while taking up control measures. Based on the survey findings, Broca traps, lures and Beauveria bassiana will be made available in areas where they are required. Officials said Broca traps would help attract the pest and detect its presence as well as assess its intensity. Training was given to farmers and field staff on installing the traps, using lures and preparing traps manually.

The district administration is also promoting biological control methods. Coffee AD Ayanti explained the use of Beauveria bassiana to farmers and field staff and imparted training on its application in coffee plantations.

DRDA Project Director Jayakrishna said coordinated efforts by all departments were necessary to tackle the pest problem effectively. Officials from the Horticulture and Agriculture departments, DRDA, Coffee Project, APCNF and Coffee Board have been asked to deploy their field staff and work together during the survey and subsequent control operations. The survey teams were trained before being sent to the field. The training covered identification of coffee berry borer symptoms, detection of affected berries, assessment of pest intensity and systematic recording of field observations. Following the awareness programme, officials and the survey teams visited coffee plantations at Doravalasa village under Chinalabudu panchayat for a field demonstration.

The Collector stressed the need to keep coffee growers involved in the control programme. Farmers will be sensitised on early symptoms, preventive measures, use of traps and biological control methods. They will also be advised to immediately inform field staff of infestation in their plantations.