Coffee exports may rise marginally

After the Coffee Board forecast a marginal increase in output, now coffee exporters too see only a slight increase in output to 2.95 lakh tonnes, down from the earlier expectation of 3 lakh tonnes, due to heavy rain last week in Karnataka, the main producing belt.

The Coffee Board had predicted a marginal increase in production to 2.91 lakh tonnes against 2.88 lakh tonnes in the previous year.

"We were expecting the production to be around 3 lakh tonnes but the crop size would be less due to heavy rains in most of the coffee growing regions in Karnataka last week," Coffee Exporters' Association President, Ramesh Rajah told PTI.

The coffee year runs from October to September.

He said the forecast made by the Board seems to be "reasonable" though "we feel that the production would be 2.95 lakh tons".

The Coffee Board in its post-blossom forecast has pegged arabica output to increase to 1,00,750 tonnes from 99,700 tonnes while robusta output was to advance to 1,90,250 tonnes from 1,88,300 tonnes.

The industry had hoped of better crop in the 2007-08 season after favourable conditions due to pre-monsoon showers in Karnataka.

Farmers in the Chikmagalur district are likely to produce only 71,100 tonnes of coffee next year compared to the 72,500 tonnes of estimated production in the current year.

Out of 71,100 tonnes, the share of Arabica would be 39,000 tonnes and that of Robusta would be 32,100 tonnes.

The Coorg district would most likely maintain its lead by producing 1.15 lakh tonnes in 2007-08.

The total coffee production for Karnataka is estimated at 2.12 lakh tonnes while in Tamil Nadu it is expected to be 1.80 lakh tonnes. The coffee output in Kerala is pegged at 57,150 tonnes.

NewsWire18 adds

India's coffee output in 2007-08 (April-March) is likely to be higher compared with the previous year as there are prospects of a good crop in Karnataka, a major producer, an official of the Coffee Board of India has said.

Post-blossom estimate made by the Coffee Board has pegged coffee output in the country at 291,000 tonnes compared with the post-monsoon estimate of 288,000 tonnes for 2006-07.

Post-blossom estimate is usually made in June, ahead of the monsoon season.

"Rains have been very good in Karnataka so far and should help in fruit growth. However, a delay in blossom shown in Kerala and Tamil Nadu could have a marginal effect on the coffee crop there," the official said.

Another factor which can lead to a higher output is the likelihood of a downward revision "� by another 10,000 tonnes "� by the Coffee Board in its post-monsoon estimate for 2006-07.

"There was some incidence of white stem borer attacks and berry drops due to incessant rains in the previous year's crop. These will be accounted for in the next estimate," the official said.

White stem borer is a beetle that attacks the stem of arabica coffee plant.

"Both the arabica as well as the robusta coffee crop in Karnataka this year is very good because the distribution of rains was even," the official said.

Karnataka's output has been estimated at 212,250 tonnes compared with last year's 206,025 tonnes.

"Based on the crop's blossom, we feel that Karnataka should make up from last year," the official said.

Karnataka accounts for 75% of India's coffee output.

Kerala's coffee output in 2007-08 is estimated at 57,150 tonnes, down from 59,475 tonnes in the previous year. Tamil Nadu's production during the same period has been pegged at 18,075 tonnes compared with 18,225 tonnes.

The drop in output in Kerala and Tamil Nadu has been attributed to the delay in blossom showers, or pre-monsoon showers, and dry spells, the official said.