Arabica Crop Likely To Fall

Arabica coffee production might be lower by 15 to 20 per cent this season (July 1997-June 1998) compared with the last seasons output of 90,000 tonne, according to Karnataka Coffee Brokers Ltd.

The Coffee Board, while estimating a total coffee production of 2.32 lakh tonne this year, had put the production of arabicas at around one lakh tonne. Exporters also agree with the revised projections, saying it might suffer a five per cent decline against the initial estimates in view of unseasonal rainfall during November-December 1997 in coffee-growing areas in the southern parts of the country.