The Coffee Board of India today cut India’s 2009-10 (October-September) output projection by about 5.5% to 289,600 tonnes largely due to crop damage by heavy rains in major growing states.
“The reduction in crop output is seen largely in Karnataka, while regions in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu showed a nominal drop,” Coffee Board Chairman GV Krishna Rau told NewsWire18.
He said heavy rains in Karnataka during October-November led to adverse crop conditions like berry dropping and wet feet in certain growing areas. Of the estimated 16,700 tonnes decline in coffee output, Karnataka alone accounts for a fall of 15,775 tonnes.
Rau, however, said the overall quantum of decline in coffee output is not a major concern. According to the latest estimate, India will produce about 94,600 tonnes of the premium Arabica coffee, down from 101,625 forecast by the Board earlier. The more popular Robusta variety production is seen at 195,000 tonnes as against the earlier estimate of 204,775 tonnes.