The Hindu Business Line : Coffee output seen up on helpful weather

Good and well-distributed rainfall during October 2007-March 2008 is seen as the primary reason for a rebound in the country's coffee production during 2008-09 (October-September) season by nearly 12 per cent.

According to Coffee Board's post-blossom estimates, coffee production next season is expected to be 2.93 lakh tonnes (lt) against 2.62 lt this season. Of the 2.93 lt, arabica is estimated to be one lt and robusta the rest. Last year, arabica output was pegged at 92,500 tonnes and robusta 1.69 lt.

"Good and well-distributed rainfall during October-March helped in moisture retention for longer period which in turn helped in the production of bearing wood for the crop during the current season. Further, the blossom and backing showers were reported to be good and adequate in almost all coffee-growing zones of Karnataka," the board said on its Web site while putting out the estimates.

The post-blossom estimates are made after the coffee flower blossoms and setting of the fruit begins.

The board also said that lower crop last year coupled with good weather and bush condition and better husbandry practices had helped in production regaining ground in Karnataka zone.

Meanwhile, provisional exports from January 1 to last weekend have been pegged at 1.21 lt against 1.16 lt. However, minus re-exports, the figures show a marginal dip (1.09 lt versus 1.10 lt).

In Karnataka, the increase in production is more pronounced in Hassan where the crop is up 46.28 per cent over last year, while output in Chikmagalur and Kodagu is seen up at 12.64 per cent and 5.22 per cent respectively. Again rise in robusta is more (59 per cent in Hassan and 20 per cent in Chikmagalur). In arabica, the increase is 40 per cent in Hassan and surprisingly, it is down in Kodagu by 1.5 per cent.

For the oncoming season, Karnataka will account for 73 per cent of the total crop, followed by Kerala. In Kerala, timely rains have helped, while the crop being free of any adverse effect in Wayanad and Travancore has also helped. Production in Kerala is pegged at 57,200 tonnes.

TN situation

On the other hand, production is expected to decline in Tamil Nadu. This is because arabica is a biennial crop and last year it was an "on" one. Also, blossoming in the State was hit by continuous rains during December-March, compounded by low temperatures.

Last year, coffee production, which was expected to be 3 lt, was affected by heavy rains in the growing regions which led to the plants developing wet feet. This particularly affected robusta production. The wet feet phenomenon is a sort of coma stage for the crop whose roots fail to work and do not consume nutrients and respond to sunlight.