With the onset of good monsoon in major coffee growing regions of the country, the quality and production is expected to witness a boost in the current crop year (2011-2012).
“Early monsoon in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala is normal, which is expected to boost quality of coffee cherries in the current crop year. According to early estimates, arabica production will be higher than last year,” Ramesh Rajah, president of Coffee Exporters’ Association said. Rajah, who owns coffee estates, however said robusta production would be lower than the last crop year.
Though Coffee Board is yet to come up with its after-blossom estimates, Karnataka Planters’ Association (KPA) has estimated output of coffee at 290,000 tonnes for 2011-12, which is around five per cent lower than the last crop year.
With onset of monsoon, the planters body expects that normal rainfall will increase crop prospects of coffee for 2011-12. “Normal monsoon is crucial to cherry development along with protecting the crop that has blossomed during February-March. We hope current crop year will boost quality of coffee,” Sahadev Balakrishna, president, KPA said.
According to planters’ body, the country expects to produce 90,000 tonnes of arabica, up 12.5 per cent over last year. Similarly, robusta production is pegged at 200,000 tonnes for the current crop year.
Balakrishna, however, added that rainfall in July and August were crucial to draw a true picture of crop estimate.
Coffee Board officials also have a similar view in this matter. “Initial reports suggest that rainfall received in major growing regions is normal, which will benefit coffee crop though sound berry production along with increase in productivity,” a top board official said.
More From This Section
He also said that the board would come up with initial crop estimates in the last week of June.
India produces around 300,000 tonnes of coffee in a crop year, which constitutes around 200,000 tonnes of robusta and 100,000 tonnes of arabica. While 70 per cent of Indian coffee is exported to countries like European Union nations, Russia and other parts of the world, rest in consumed domestically. Major coffee growing regions of the country comprises of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala among others.
Referring to current export scenario, exporters said the country would see a reduction in exports in 2011-12 due to low carryover stock and less production. “Exports will be subdued in 2011-12 as there is less carryover stock in the country,” Rajah of Exporters' Association said.
Earlier, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) came up with a report saying that coffee exports from India would be down by around 17 per cent to 240,000 tonnes in the 2011-12 period.