Coffee output to hit new high

Coffee production in India is expected to touch a new peak of 3,55,600 tonnes this marketing year starting October, as the crop prospects are encouraging due to adequate rains in most growing states, state-run Coffee Board said today.

The country's total coffee output has reached a record 3,27,000 tonnes in the ongoing 2014-15 coffee year, though slightly lower than the earlier estimate of 3,31,000 tonnes made for the same period, it said in a statement.

The coffee year runs from October to September.

Releasing the initial production estimate for 2015-16, Coffee Board said: "The post blossom crop forecast for the year 2015-16 is placed at 3,55,600 tonnes. This is an increase of 28,600 tonnes over the final crop estimate of 2014-15." Of the total, Arabica production is estimated at 1,10,300 tonnes in 2015-16 as against 98,000 tonnes this year, while that of Robusta production is pegged at 2,45,300 tonnes as against 2,29,000 tonnes in the said period, it said.

Arabica and Robusta are the varieties of coffee.

"Overall, the crop 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 and backing showers in traditional areas and non-traditional areas," it said in a statement.

According to the Board, much of the production gain is expected to come from Karnataka, where total coffee output is pegged at 2,56,500 tonnes in 2015-16, as against 2,33,230 tonnes in the current year.

"The main reason for increased crop forecast in the state is that all coffee growing areas have received timely and adequate blossom and backing showers during this year.

Additionally, prevalence of good prices encouraged the growers to adopt better husbandry practices which have helped to invigorate production," it said.

The output in three coffee growing districts Kodagu, Chikmagalur and Hassan is estimated higher at 1,38,075 tonnes, 85,250 tonnes and 33,175 tonnes, respectively, for 2015-16.

Coffee production in Kerala is estimated to increase to 69,800 tonnes in 2015-16 from 67,700 tonnes this year, while the output in Tamil Nadu is likely to improve marginally to 18,800 tonnes from 17,875 tonnes in the said period.

In non-traditional areas, coffee production in Andhra Pradesh is estimated to increase to 9,700 tonnes from 7,425 tonnes, while the output in Odisha is expected to rise to 600 tonnes from 550 tonnes in the said period.

Coffee output in north eastern region is, however, expected to decline marginally to 200 tonnes in 2015-16 from 220 tonnes in 2014-15, the Board added.

Till last week, monsoon rains were 11 per cent more than the average. Monsoon rains are expected to be normal in June but may weaken in the next month, as per the Met department.

India accounts for only 4-5 per cent of the world's output, but exports 70-80 per cent of its produce. Italy, Russia and Germany are the top three buyers of Indian coffee.