Saving Wayanad's Coffee Growers: Usha's Urgent Plea in Rajya Sabha

P T Usha raised concerns in the Rajya Sabha over the escalating crisis faced by coffee growers in Wayanad, Kerala. Issues include wildlife conflicts, outdated crop insurance, and labour shortages. She urged immediate government action to transform Indian coffee farms into AI-enabled smart farms by 2030.

In a heartfelt plea during the Rajya Sabha's Zero Hour, P T Usha drew attention to the dire situation faced by coffee growers in Kerala's Wayanad district. The distinguished athlete-turned-parliamentarian urged the government to tackle worsening human-wildlife conflicts and inadequate crop insurance.

She revealed the significant threat posed by wildlife encroaching on plantations, resulting in extensive crop damage and endangering human lives. Usha also criticized the outdated insurance systems failing amid increasing climate-related challenges. Furthermore, she highlighted the pressing labour shortages that are crippling the region's coffee sector.

Usha called for urgent efforts to introduce mechanization, legal guidelines on irrigation, and the transformation of coffee farms into AI-enabled smart farms. She emphasized the need for strategic and timely intervention to safeguard Wayanad's coffee economy and its planters.