Coffee prices are currently remunerative and expected to stay high till the harvest season begins in December, said Krishna Rau, chairman of the Coffee Board in his keynote address at the Karnataka Planters' Association coffee conference. | |
| "Prevailing prices of both Arabica and Robusta are quite comfortable. While the Arabica prices are hovering at above 110 cents per pound, Robusta prices are even better and hovering at above $1500 ar tonne which is considered remunerative for Indian growers," he added. |
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| Indian coffee is however likely to be impacted by the Vietnam coffee harvest which has commenced and is estimated to be a bumper crop. |
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| The 'bullish' trend in global coffee prices is mainly attributed to the projected 'off year' crop of Brazil in 2007-08 season. |
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| "Against this backdrop, it is expected that coffee prices will hold on to present levels till the Indian harvest season begins in December," Rau pointed out. |
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| According to the Coffee Board chairman, abundant precipitation by the south-west monsoon in the current season is expected to have a negative bearing on the white stem borer (WSB) incidence in the months to come. |
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| "However, field reports indicate the threat of WSB is far from over. Even now the level of pest incidence is quite high in a majority of Arabica estates and on an average, around 2-3 per cent plants are showing symptoms of pest attack. |
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| Hence, there is an imperative need to tackle this dreaded pest on a war footing through a collective community approach," he added. |
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| Owing to the favourable weather conditions, post-blossom crop estimates for the 2006-07 coffee crop were placed at 300,300 tonne, comprising 103,700 tonne of Arabica and 196,600 tonne of Robusta. |
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| Although this season, the south west monsoon has been favourable in major coffee growing regions, some parts of Chikmagalur and Hassan districts received excessive rain continuously for around two months which resulted in serious crop loss in 500 to 600 hectares. |
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| However, this setback may not have a great impact on the overall crop prospects for 2006-07, Rau explained. |
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