November 3, 2025

There’s a silent storm brewing in the green fields of Dakshina Kannada. It doesn’t roar like thunder or flash like lightning, but it’s destroying years of hard work, dream by dream, tree by tree. Farmers in places like Belthangady, Puttur, Bantwal, and Sullia are watching helplessly as their arecanut palms — once strong, tall, and full of life — begin to die from the top down. What started as a few brown leaves has now turned into a full-blown nightmare spreading across our region. 

In the past, farmers feared Kole Roga — the deadly fruit rot disease that appears during the rainy season. But now, a new threat has arrived, and it’s even worse. It’s called the Blast Disease, a fast-spreading fungal infection that’s eating away at arecanut trees in entire plantations. Experts say it’s caused by a fungus that once affected rice — now, it has jumped to arecanut. The result? Leaves dry up, fruits shrink, and within weeks, what was once a healthy tree turns sick and lifeless.

This isn’t just a disease — it’s a disaster. Farmers say they spray every possible chemical, but nothing seems to stop it. Even agricultural officers admit that there is no clear cure yet. The humidity and unpredictable rain in coastal Karnataka are helping the fungus spread faster than ever. Some farmers have lost over 60% of their yield in just one season. Imagine putting all your savings, time, and hope into your plantation, only to see it vanish in front of your eyes. 

To make things worse, Blast is not the only problem. Many areas are still struggling with Yellow Leaf Disease, which weakens the palms slowly over time, and Kole Roga, which strikes during heavy rain. When all three come together, even the strongest trees cannot survive. Farmers are left with half-rotten bunches, falling leaves, and empty bank accounts. 

Then there’s the issue of cost. To control these diseases, farmers must spray fungicides multiple times a year. A single spray costs thousands of rupees when you include labor, petrol, and chemicals. Add the rising prices of fertilizers and pesticides, and it’s clear that arecanut farming has become a gamble. Some farmers say they spend more money maintaining their plantations than what they actually earn from selling the nuts. 

When crops fail, the next hope is government help. But here again, disappointment waits. Compensation takes months to arrive — sometimes it doesn’t arrive at all. Officials come, take pictures, note down the damage, and leave. By the time help is approved, another season has passed. The same story repeats every year. 

Climate change has added another cruel twist. Unpredictable rainfall, long dry spells, and sudden downpours have confused the natural cycle of the arecanut tree. The palms, once used to steady monsoons, now suffer under long periods of moisture and heat. This is what makes the new Blast disease so dangerous — it thrives in this unstable weather. The more the climate changes, the worse it becomes. 

There’s also a serious health risk hiding in plain sight. Because of constant spraying, farmers — often without proper masks or gloves — are breathing and touching strong chemical pesticides every week. Some develop skin problems, eye irritation, or breathing issues. The chemicals might control the fungus for a while, but they are slowly harming the very people who use them. 

And behind all this, there is a deeper pain — the feeling of being forgotten. Ask any arecanut grower in our district, and they’ll say the same thing: “Nobody listens.” Farmers feel abandoned by both research centers and government departments. They say scientists keep promising disease-resistant seedlings and new fungicides, but nothing reaches them on time. When they lose half their crop, all they get is advice — not solutions. 

The truth is, if this continues, many small farmers might give up arecanut altogether. Some have already started switching to coffee or other crops, but even that comes with risk and investment. Arecanut has been the lifeline of Dakshina Kannada for generations. It built homes, educated children, and kept families stable. Losing it means losing a part of our identity. 

What can be done? It’s time for action, not sympathy. We need faster research, field-level disease patrols, early-warning systems, and farmer training on how to spot and prevent Blast disease before it spreads. The government should make sprays and protective gear affordable, and ensure compensation reaches farmers within weeks, not months. Most importantly, local agriculture offices must work hand-in-hand with farmers instead of staying behind paperwork. 

Every leaf that turns yellow, every palm that falls, tells the same story — of effort, loss, and neglect. It’s not just about crops. It’s about the lives that depend on them. The arecanut trees that once stood as symbols of prosperity in Dakshina Kannada are now crying for help. The question is: will anyone listen before it’s too late?