The Hindu Business Line : Drought takes toll on arabica output — Production seen 10-15 pc lower than estimates

THE country's arabica coffee crop may be lower than post-blossom estimates made by the Coffee Board even as harvest of the variety is in full swing, plantation sources have said.

"Arabica production may be 10-15 per cent below the official estimates. On the other hand, robusta prospects look good, though harvest is yet to begin," the sources told Business Line.

The Coffee Board had in July estimated that the 2002-03 crop year (October-Septembr) production would be 2.80 lakh tonnes, 6.6 per cent less than the previous year. Of this, arabica was estimated at 1.05 lakh tonnes and robusta 1.74 lakh tonnes.

The production is seen lower this year on drought in the growing areas, poor crop maintenance by planters affected by low returns and the after-effects of diseases to the plants last year.

When contacted, Coffee Board's former vice-president, Mr Bose Mandanna, said for the first time in the last couple of years, the plants were free of pest problems. "However, the effect of drought is seen in the plants," he said.

While this is not seen affecting the output, it could affect the production in the coming years. "Some growers have begun weeding and there is a fear that the robustas may be affected," Mr Mandanna said, adding that plants of 3-4 years of age were showing signs of wilting and dying.

"These plants were expected to start yielding in the next few years and efforts are on to save them. Growers have begun watering to save them," he said.

A group of coffee scientists also visited last week to take stock of the situation.

Coffee growing areas of Karnataka experienced 20-25 per cent less rainfall this year. The fall in rainfall has been attributed to the warm water El Nino effect.

"Besides watering, growers have also resorted to shade-covering to save the plants," Mr Mandanna said.

Meanwhile, coffee growers could not take advantage of the rise in prices witnessed a couple of weeks ago. "Unfortunately, we did not have stocks when the prices were on the rise," a grower said, adding that they were hopeful of a hike in prices later towards the season.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
Comment on this article to BLFeedback@thehindu.co.in

Stories in this Section
Pepper futures bourse meeting turns a fiasco

Truant rains may stunt growth

Move to create market for organic produce

Chautala to oppose tax on farm income

Weak dollar is key driver of gold rally

Grains output likely to fall by 30 mt

Cotton prices to move up

Drought takes toll on arabica output — Production seen 10-15 pc lower than estimates