Coffee Board says FY14 output to be 10% lower

Excess rains damaged crop in major growing areas in Karnataka

The Coffee Board of India on Monday said coffee production in 2013-14 would be at least 10 per cent lower than post-blossom estimates, which had said production would stand at 3,47,000 tonnes. In 2012-13, India had recorded production of 3,18,200 tonnes, a record.

Coffee Board Chairman Jawaid Akhtar said, “Based on the conditions that prevailed in February and March, when the growing regions received good blossom showers, we had estimated we would achieve 3,47,000 tonnes. However, due to a drought in the two subsequent months and the heavy rains in June, July and August, we anticipate a drop of about 10 per cent drop, against the post-blossom estimates.”

This means for 2013-14, the country's bean production could be about 3,12,000 tonnes. However, growers estimate it at,70,000-2,90,000 tonnes.

In a presentation on the outlook for coffee this financial year on the eve of the 120th annual conference of United Planters’ Association of India, here, Akhtar said the real picture would emerge only after the post-monsoon estimates were announced. “To assess the crop prospects post the monsoon, we will conduct an extensive field survey in the growing areas in Karnataka in October, and that would give us the correct picture.”

He, however, didn’t agree with the Karnataka Planters’ Association, which projected a 25-30 per cent drop in coffee production this year. “Some planters have reported ‘wet foot disease'...Many other planters have said they have not been affected. So, I will not make any guess on the exact production this year and, as of now, we anticipate a fall of about 10 per cent,” he said.

Good blossom showers were followed by delayed backing showers and drought. Monsoon rains started on time and were active for about 70 days, recording almost double the rainfall last year. “Continuous heavy rainfall is reported to have caused fruit drop and incidence of black rot and stalk rot in certain high-rainfall areas, which may affect the final crop,” the Coffee Board chairman said.

In its post-blossom estimates, the board had pegged Arabica production at 1,10,000 tonnes and Robusta output at 2,36,000 tonnes for 2013-14. In Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the picking season would commence post-Diwali. Karnataka accounts for 70 per cent of India's coffee output.

In 2012-13, the country had harvested 3,18,200 tonnes, against the targeted 3,10,000 tonnes. This comprised 98,600 tonnes of Arabica and 2,19,600 tonnes of Robusta. A total of 3,06,983 tonnes of coffee, valued at Rs 4,681 crore ($890 million), was exported. Value-added coffee exports had increased to about 94,000 tonnes, about 30 per cent of the total exports, Akhtar said.