Lush rows of Robusta coffee, pepper vines climbing trees, and fruit-bearing exotic plants create an attractive scene at a 6.5-acre farm in Ambalavayal, Wayanad, Kerala. Yet clear signs of an inadequate monsoon appear beneath the greenery. Pepper spikes have formed but stay small, coffee berries grow irregularly, and the experienced grower expects a notably smaller yield this season.
Similar worries affect many farmers across Wayanad, where below-average rainfall has damaged crops. The district recorded just 270.23 mm of rain in June, the lowest amount in five years, according to the Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology. Specialists linked the shortfall to the late start and reduced strength of the southwest monsoon, driven by climate change and El Niño.
The farmer highlights pepper vines with thin, stunted spikes. Normally spikes appear after early summer rains and develop further with monsoon arrival before berries form. Limited rain this year has restricted that growth. Coffee flowered and set berries after summer showers, but weak June rainfall has hindered further berry expansion. Steady monsoon moisture is essential for proper berry size, which has not occurred.
Another grower with a 5.5-acre mixed plantation noted that uneven summer rains combined with poor June monsoon have worsened conditions. Certain areas received early showers that started pepper spikes, yet lack of rain during the traditional continuous-rain period stopped development and will likely cut pepper output. Irregular summer moisture also caused coffee to flower at varying times, requiring multiple harvest rounds and raising labour expenses.
Paddy farming has suffered too. Below-normal rainfall means many growers have not transplanted seedlings. The delay has also prevented timely fertiliser use, raising fears of reduced yields.
The executive director of the Hume Centre stated that Wayanad usually sees heavy monsoon rains and related natural-disaster risks. This year the main problem is the large rainfall deficit. Weakening of the Indian monsoon from climate change and El Niño effects over the Pacific are seen as main causes. Forecasts for upcoming weeks remain unfavourable.
Lakkidi recorded the district’s highest June rainfall at 836 mm, while Mullankolly had the lowest at 44 mm.
Agriculture specialists said the next weeks will be critical for pepper and paddy. Paddy has been hit hardest by the deficit, and good July showers are vital for pepper as well, according to an associate professor at the Regional Agricultural Research Station.
