ComMin panel to suggest ways to protect coffee from pests

Move aimed at enhancing productivity of coffee and further boosting its exports

The Commerce Ministry has formed a committee that will suggest ways to effectively deal with 'stem borer' pests in coffee plantations and reduce crop losses, a senior official said.

The move is aimed at enhancing productivity of coffee in the country and further boosting its exports.

According to the foreign trade policy, coffee plantations are adversely affected by pests, particularly the stem borer.

The rising incidence of white stem borer attack in Arabica coffee is a serious concern for coffee planters in the country. The incidence is peculiar to India and flares up due to erratic rainfall and increased temperature.

As per a report, this pest is responsible for an estimated loss of about 0.5 million plants each year, resulting in a crop loss of about 1,500 tonnes per annum.

The official said the committee comprised of experts from private sector companies and government officials among others.



"They will make a presentation on how to overcome the adverse impact of the stem borer pest in the coffee plantations," the Commerce Ministry official added.

To ensure that plantations remain commercially viable, attract investment and professional talent, it is critical that India's coffee exports become more competitive in discerning international markets.

In order to do so, effective means of neutralising the impact of this pest would be found through scientific and technological methods and collaborative research, the official added.

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 has said.

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

The coffee year runs from October to September. Arabica and Robusta are the two main varieties of coffee in India.

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

The coffee growing states include Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

India's coffee exports increased marginally to $803 million in 2014-15 from $799 million in the previous fiscal.