India harvests lower coffee crop for 2013-14

The production is estimated at 280,000 tonnes, about 12% lower than last year

India’s coffee production for 2013-14 has declined far below the post monsoon estimates of the Coffee Board, thereby reducing the hopes of exporters to make good of the high prices ruling in the international market.

 

According to data gathered by the Karnataka Planters Association (KPA) for the current harvesting season, which has just ended, the production of beans for 2013-14 is said to be in the range of 280,000 tonnes, about 12% lower than the previous year. In 2012-13, India produced 318,200 tonnes. 

 

The current year’s production is also lower by 10% when compared to Coffee Board’s post-monsoon estimates.

 

The Coffee Board, which had projected a record production of 347,000 tonnes for the year in its post-blossom estimates, scaled it down to 311,000 tonnes for the year following a severe damage on the crop due to heavy monsoon rains between July and September 2013.

 

“We had always differed with the Board estimates on production numbers for this year. The production is more or less in line with our estimates of 280,000 tonnes. Most of our member growers have harvested an average 20% less crop for this year,” said Nishant R Gurjer, former chairman of KPA and grower of coffee.

 

He said the crop suffered twin disaster of drought during the months of March and April 2013 and later continuously heavy rains during the monsoon months. This led to sever damage to the crop and the crop was hit with white stem borer in most of the growing regions in Karnataka.

 

Karnataka accounts for 72% of the national coffee production in the country. 

 

The KPA has estimated the Arabica production at 80,000-90,000 tonnes and Robusta output at 190,000 tonnes for 2013-14.

 

As a result of short crop, the Indian exporters will be left with much smaller quantity for exports this year. The domestic consumption of coffee is steadily growing in the range of 6% annually and is pegged at 125,000 tonnes in 2013. Currently, Arabica prices are ruling at a two-year high of 200 cents per pound (lb).