The coffee production is likely to drop by 5.6 per cent to 276,600 tonnes for the current crop year (2008-09), according to post-monsoon estimates compared to the post-blossom estimates, Coffee Board said. Coffee Board carries out two estimates in each crop year, one at the time of blossom in March and April and another during the post-monsoon rains in November. The new crop hits the market in December.
The major reason for reduction in coffee production is due to rain on the blossom day in majority of the coffee growing areas in Karnataka (Kodagu, Hassan and Chikmagalur), and subsequent heavy monsoon rains in the respective zones that resulted in berry drop caused by wet feet conditions.
The board further said heavy rains and hanging mist in certain pockets of affected zones has also resulted in severe incidences of rot and leaf diseases, which in turn lead to the decline in production.
Now with the revised estimates, Arabica production is pegged at 90,050 tonnes and Robusta at 186,550 tonnes. Arabica production is likely to see a decline of 9,950 tonnes or 9.95 per cent compared to Robusta which is estimated to decline by 6,450 tonnes or 3.34 per cent over the post blossom forecast. Almost the entire reduction (about 99 per cent) is attributed to Karnataka state alone.
In the other coffee growing states like Kerala, due to the favourable monsoon conditions the coffee berry development was normal and the forecast is unchanged from the post-blossom estimate of 57,200 tonnes.
In Tamil Nadu production is forecast at 16,440 tonnes as against 16,625 tonnes of post blossom. Only a marginal decline in production of 185 tonnes is seen in Pulneys and Nilgiris region.
In non-traditional coffee growing areas of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa and north-eastern region, the post-monsoon estimate is placed at 4,985 tonnes, a negligible decline of 20 tonnes from the earlier forecast of 5,005 tonnes.