The Karnataka Planters’ Association (KPA), representing over 70% of India's coffee production, has called for coffee farms to be included under a weather-linked crop insurance plan. M. Salman Baseer, KPA chairman, told The Hindu: "We hope the upcoming Budget will hold some good news for coffee farmers in Karnataka." He cited continuous heavy rains causing severe damage to plantations. Coffee farmer and Coorg Planters’ Association member Pradeep Poovayya pointed out that coffee is not covered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) because it falls under the Ministry of Commerce, not Agriculture. "This is an unfair classification," he said, noting that crops like black pepper and coconut do get coverage. Former KPA chairman Arvind Rao said, "Coffee farming in India is completely dependent on rain and shine. However, unpredictable and extreme weather adversely impacts production, and that has been happening every year for the last many years." Rana George, Managing Director of Kelachandra Coffee, explained that climate volatility, rising input and labour costs, and new export rules are squeezing growers. He called for Budget support for climate resilience, irrigation, research on better varieties, and easier credit access. Mr. Poovayya demanded policy changes so coffee gets included in PMFBY and climate loss coverage in the National Disaster Relief Fund. Currently, farmers get only ₹35,000 per hectare for land loss and ₹7,000 per acre for crop loss—payments based on outdated calculations. "We want a regulatory overhaul," he said.