The Hindu Business Line : Rains soak next season’s coffee output hopes

Impact of rains
Rains during flowering could affect pollination as the grains get washed away.
These could also lead to “unsized” fruits that may fall during monsoon.

M.R. Subramani

Chennai, March 24 Heavy rains that have been lashing across the South since last week have dampened the hopes of coffee growers with blossoming of both arabica and robusta reported to have been affected.

“The rains during the last few days in the coffee-growing areas have caused acute problems. The setting of fruits in the coffee plants is in danger,” said Mr A.K. Bhandari, former president of the United Planters’ Association of Southern India.

Different experience

The rains, which have been lashing continuously in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh due to a remnant cyclonic circulation, have taken a toll of crops such as paddy, cashew, chilli, besides coffee. Rain does fall at this time of year in the coffee-growing areas, but usually it hits isolated areas.

“Till now, rains have never been widespread as witnessed now in the whole of South India. The rains have come exactly when the buds blossom,” said Mr Bhandari.

Effect on Kodagu

Sources said Kodagu, which accounts for over 50 per cent of coffee production in Karnataka and 40 per cent in the country, had experienced heavy rainfall during the blossom period. “There could be 20-30 per cent loss of crop in that district,” the sources said, adding there was no accurate information about the damage.

An official with the Coffee Board said no assessment had been made on the impact of the rains.

“There should be no rains at least in the morning during the flowering period. Unfortunately, we have had rains during the period,” sources said. Robusta is also reported to be affected due to the rains during blossoming.

However, the situation in other coffee-growing districts such as Chickmagalur and Hasan in Karnataka and Wayanad in Kerala was reported to be “not worrisome”.

Mr K.A. Bopanna of Badra estates in Chickmagalur, Karnataka, said the rains had not affected the crop for the next season in his district, though the standing coffee crop had been damaged by current as well as last month’s rains.

Break in berries

“Rains in February had dried up coffee in the plants. That has brought down the percentage of parchment coffee. Again rains this month have led to break in the berries,” Mr Bopanna said.

Arabica blossom in Chickmagalur looked good but individual estates would have to be assessed, he said.

Mr Bhandari said, “Going by conventional wisdom, rains should have affected the flowers which blossom at night. But the degree of damage has to be assessed.”

The phenomenon

Usually, during this period the bud in the coffee plant blossom and the setting takes place. But when it rains during the blossom period, the setting gets affected as the pollen grains get washed away.

At least 30 per cent of the arabica crop could be safe as some plants blossomed last month. It is the rest 70 per cent of the plants, where blossoming took place between Saturday and Monday, that is reported to be facing problems.

Even during last month’s rains, the Karnataka growers had expressed fears of damage to coffee crop. It said the untimely rains varying from 50-80 mm where blossom occurred, could lead to flowering during rains this month. In turn, this could lead to improper size of fruit.

These “unsized” fruits could fall during monsoon and result in few fruits in the bunches, the federation President, Dr N.K. Pradeep, had said.

Production scenario

Production for season to October has been estimated at 2.62 lakh tonnes by the Coffee Board with arabica output being 92,500 tonnes and robusta the rest. This is against last year’s output of 2.88 lakh tonnes.

This year’s production has been affected by heavy monsoon rains in Karnataka and to some extent due to white stem borer menace.

Meanwhile, provisionally exports during January 1-March 30 were up at 61,316 tonnes against 56,902 tonnes during the same period a year ago mainly due to rise inre-exports to 9,672 tonnes from 5,080 tonnes.

More Stories on : Coffee | Climate & Weather

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page