The insects are feeding on coffee and chillies, destroying the crops in one coffee plantation in Belur GP limits over the last two days.
K M Niranjan, an organic farmer is the one who is suffering huge loss due to these insects. He says that the insects, resembling honey bees, must be coming from the nearby forest.
“I had never seen such insects in the past. I am wondering why the insects have come into the plantation. The insects have attacked the coffee plants, pepper creepers and leaves,” says Niranjan.
The insects which rest on the plants during the day start flying with the falling of the dusk. Due to the insect menace, workers have refused to work in Niranjan’s plantation. Niranjan says that though he has brought the issue to the notice of Horticulture Research Centre in Chettalli, the researchers have not come to the spot to inspect.
“I am worried now. I don’t know if I should wait for the researchers to come and study the situation or I should go ahead and spray some insecticide. I am confused because I cannot be waiting for the situation to go out of control,” says Niranjan.With the fear of losing the crops, Niranjan still continues to look at the plantation with confused and helpless state of mind.