The Hindu Business Line : ‘Fly’ harvesting of coffee begins

Chennai, Sept. 10 With coffee plantations receiving early blossom showers in March this year, “fly”-harvest of the berries has already begun in some of the areas.

“Some of the berries have ripened and we have begun fly harvesting in our areas. This time, in view of the early blossom showers, we have begun the harvest at least a month early,” said Mr Vijayann Rajes of Yercaud-based MSP Plantations, in Coonoor during the United Planters’ Association of Southern India’s 115th annual conference.

Aid early ripening

Fly harvesting is picking of a few ripe berries in the plants. It is done to help the vegetative growth of other berries on the plants and also help in their early ripening.

“Yes, fly picking has begun in some of the areas, such as Shevaroy hills (Salem). But it may have some effect on the production,” said Mr Ramesh Rajah, President of the Coffee Exporters Association.

Mr Rajes said as of now, the quality of the beans looked good, indicating good development of the endosperm. “We should see the harvest picking up later towards the month,” he said.

Even in some of the areas in Karnataka, harvest would be a month early. Usually, coffee is harvested from November.

Production estimates

Despite the early blossom showers in some parts and coffee areas receiving two blossom showers in Karnataka and five in Tamil Nadu, production was likely to be unaffected to a great extent.

“The five blossom showers in Pulneys (in Tamil Nadu) are actually not good for the crop. Production in Tamil Nadu is likely to be lower as a result. But it is likely to be made up in Karnataka to some extent,” Mr G.V. Krishna Rau, Chairman of the Coffee Board, told Business Line in Coonoor.

The Coffee Board, in its estimate made after the blossom of the coffee flower, has pegged the production for the 2008-09 season starting November at 2.93 lakh tonnes with arabica making up one lakh tonnes and robusta the rest. Tamil Nadu’s output of this has been pegged at 16,625 tonnes. Last year, production was 2.62 lakh tonnes.

“We think the crop could be much lower than the post-blossom estimates. We don’t think we will get one lakh tonnes of arabica as projected,” said a planter.

Low Robusta

Mr Rajah felt robusta could be a bit lower than the board’s estimates.

“Though monsoon showers were a bit delayed and occurred only during August, they helped in clearing berry borers in arabicas that were threatening the plants,” said an industry official.

Mr Rau said rainfall pattern had become more erratic in the last decade, introducing more uncertainties. An increase of two degrees in the general temperature has become a common phenomenon and opening up of shades in the coffee plantations for increasing productivity have also led to after-effects.

Waiting to reap

Exporters are awaiting the new crop to strike deals. “We have to get a clear picture of the oncoming crop and they will have to start arriving,” said Mr Rajah.

Exports from January to September 9 have been provisionally estimated at 1.71 lakh tonnes against 1.61 lakh tonnes during the same period a year ago. This includes re-exports of 16,500 tonnes against 8,070 tonnes last year.

Fertiliser shortage

On the other hand, growers are complaining about shortage of fertilisers. But the Coffee Board Chairman said growers did not need di-ammonium phosphate, while the availability of urea was good.

“In fact, the Karnataka Government has told us that any amount of urea could be picked up from the warehouses in Mangalore,” he said.

Mr Rajes said there were problems in getting fertilisers such as muriate of potash and a few nutrients.

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