Coffee Board forecasts record bean crop for 2015-16 at 355,600 metric tons

Final production for 2014-15 has been estimated at 327,000 metric tons, a growth of 7.4% over previous year

India's coffee production for 2015-16 is estimated at a record 355,600 metric tons, a growth of 8.75% over 2014-15. This comprises of 110,300 metric tons of Arabica and 245,300 metric tons of Robusta for the crop year starting October 2015.

According to estimates by state-owned Coffee Board the final estimate for 2014-15 has been placed at 327,000 metric tons, a growth of 7.4% over 2013-14, when the country's bean crop stood at 304,500 metric tons.

The post Blossom crop forecast for the year 2015-16 at 355,600 metric tons is 3.5% higher than the post blossom estimates of 2014-15. Last year, the Coffee Board had estimated the post-blossom crop at 344,750 metric tons.

 

Among the states, the post blossom estimate for Karnataka for 2015-16 is placed at 256,500 MT comprising of 83,670 MT of Arabica and 172,830 MT of Robusta.

Overall, the crops prospects of 2015-16 at post-blossom stage are quite encouraging with a promise of highest record crop thanks mainly to the timely and adequate blossom & backing showers in the traditional areas and non-traditional areas, the Board said in its forecast.



The main reason for increased crop forecast in the state is that all the coffee growing areas have received timely & adequate blossom and backing showers during this year (2015-16). Additionally, prevalence of good prices encouraged the growers to adopt better husbandry practices which have helped to invigorate production, the Board said.

The Kerala coffee zones also have received adequate and timely blossom and backing showers during this year. The post blossom estimates for the year 2015-16 is placed at 69,800 metric tons, which is an increase of 2,100 metric tons (3.10%) mainly from Robusta over the previous 2014-15 final estimate of 67,700 metric tons.

In Tamil Nadu also, the blossom and backing showers were timely and adequate leading to good crop prospects this year. The Post Blossom forecast for this year is placed at 18,800 metric tons, which is an overall increase of 925 metric tons (5.17%) as against the previous year's final estimated crop of 17,875 metric tons.

In Non-Traditional areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and North Eastern Region, the post-blossom forecast is placed at 10,500 metric tons as against previous final estimate of 8,195 metric tons. The higher forecast has come mainly from Andhra Pradesh due to increase in bearing area.

The final crop estimate based on crop harvest data for the year 2014-15 is placed at 327,000 metric tons which is highest so far, comprising of 98,000 metric tons of Arabica and 229,000 metric tons of Robusta. The final crop estimate of 2014-15 showed a marginal decrease of 4,000 metric tons (-1.21%) over the post monsoon estimate of 2014-15 (331,000 metric tons). 



The production of Arabica has shown a decrease of 1,600 metric tons (-1.61%) while Robusta decreased by 2,400 metric tons (-1.04%) over the post-monsoon estimate made during November 2014, before the crop harvesting. The loss in production has mainly come from Karnataka.

Among the states, the final crop estimate for 2014-15 in respect of Karnataka is placed at 233,230 metric tons comprising of 74,755 metric tons of Arabica and 158,475 metric tons of Robusta. The final production in Karnataka for 2014-15 season has shown an overall decline of 3,110 metric tons (-1.32%) over the post-monsoon estimate of 2014-15, contributed by decline of 1,250 metric tons (-1.64%) in Arabica production and a decline of 1,860 metric tons (-1.16%) in Robusta.