The Hindu Business Line : Production target will be achieved, says Coffee Board

NEW DELHI: The coffee production in the country is likely to touch the target of 2.93 lakh tonnes in 2008-09 despite initial concerns over fall in output due to scanty rainfall in some of the major producing regions.

“Our post-blossom estimates have already been released with 2.93 lakh tonnes as estimated crop for the year 2008-09. So far, we have had no reason and no occasion to revisit this figure,” said the Coffee Board chairman Mr G V Krishna Rau.

He also emphasised that there is no change in the output estimates for Arabica and Robusta varieties at 1 lakh tonnes and 1.93 lakh tonnes respectively. Some of the coffee producing regions in Karnataka witnessed low rainfall in June, raising fears of dr op in the output.

“Earlier, there was low rainfall in some parts of Karnataka. But now that the monsoon has made up for the initial deficit, we are quite optimistic of meeting the post-blossom target of 2.93 lakh tonnes,” Central Coffee Research Institute Director (Resear ch) Mr Jayaram said.

However, a clear picture will emerge in the next estimate after monsoon, which is scheduled to come up in November, Jayaram said. Karnataka and some parts of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat had witnessed deficient rainfall in July leading to appr ehensions of lower crop production.

However, monsoon revived towards the July-end. Exporters, however, still feel that there may be a marginal fall in the production. - PTI

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