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Our Bureau

Mr E.B. Sethna (left), President, United Planters' Association of Southern India (Upasi); Mr Abhijit Sengupta, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry; and Mr G. V. Krishna Rau, Chairman, Coffee Board, at the Coffee Conference organised by Karnataka Planters Association and Upasi in Bangalore on Tuesday. — G.R.N. Somashekar

Bangalore , Nov 8

THE Coffee Board has said that it does not agree with the planters' body on the expected reduction in arabica output for 2005-06 primarily due to the severe infestation of white stem borer.

According to the board's post-blossom estimates, expected arabica output is around 1.05 lakh tonnes of the total projected 2.94 lakh tonnes.

The United Planters Association of South India (Upasi) and the Karnataka Planters Association (KPA) had on Monday said the arabica crop would be down about 25 per cent over initial estimates as the white stem borer had extensively infested plantations in drought-prone areas.

Addressing KPA members, Mr G.V. Krishna Rau, Coffee Board Chairman, said the board did not fully agree with the growersfears.

Terming their estimate as "not realistic," Mr Rau said the arabica crop size could have shrunk over the past three years.

"However, I don't want to guess about the crop size at this point of time," he said, adding that the board was currently assessing the crop size.

Delivering the keynote address on `Outlook on Coffee — Indian Situation and Global Scenario,' Mr Rau exhorted coffee planters and the industry to strive towards increasing domestic consumption.

"Efforts should be focused on developing a coffee culture as well as improving the quality of coffee," Mr Rau said, adding there was a general optimism that coffee consumption was set to increase rapidly.

Mr Abhijit Sengupta, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, suggested that the coffee growers, led by Upasi and KPA, should set up a group in association with the Coffee Board for the generic promotion of the commodity and overseas brand-building.

He urged the growers to take a "global approach", accord quality top priority, and aggressively seek overseas markets for premium returns.

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