The Karnataka Planters' Association estimates the State's robusta crop after harvest at 1.3 lakh tonnes. This is against the Coffee Board's estimates of 1.36 lakh tonnes. The association has pegged the country's robusta output at two lakh tonnes.

A press statement issued by the association pointed out that South Kodagu has reported a slight drop in estimates. “The other major areas such as the Balehonnur zone and Mudigere/Saklespur zone have reported a good crop,” the release said. Wyanad, too, has had a good crop, it said.

The output of robusta parchment, a premium variety used in expressos in particular, is pegged at 20,000 tonnes. “Due to a drop in the premium commanded by robusta parchment in the international market and severe water resource and labour constraints, several growers have reduced their conversion of robusta fruit into parchment for this season. However, the quality of robusta parchment is expected to be much better as only the quality-conscious traditional growers would have ventured to produce robusta parchment this year,” the release said.

Narrowing gap in prices of robusta parchment and cherry in 2010-11 has also led to lower production of the former.

RAINS PATCHY, SPORADIC

Anil Urs from Hubli reports: On the outlook for arabica in 2011-12, the association said, “Since the harvested arabica crop was low, the next year's potential ‘wood' was looking good. The ideal blossom rains for arabica is during the first week of April. However, the rainfall in all the prime arabica zones have been very sporadic, patchy and not well covered.”

Robusta outlook

Regarding robusta prospects, the release said, “Since the harvested robusta crop has been good, the next year's potential ‘wood' would be lower. For robusta, the ideal blossom rains is during the first few weeks of March. The rain during February was sporadic, patchy and not well distributed over all the robusta growing areas of South Kodagu , Balehonnur and Saklespur.”

“Even in the areas that did receive rains, it was not sufficient for a healthy blossom. With a severe constraint on water resources and availability of power, several plantations could not cover their normal irrigation schedules,” said Mr Sahadev Balakrishna, Chairman, Karnataka Planters' Association, in his report titled ‘Blossom rains and the outlook for 2011-12'.

Since robusta is more sensitive to drought, any delay in rainfall beyond the last week of March would drastically affect the fruit setting. All this has resulted in multiple and sporadic blossoms and would result in a crop well below the harvested robusta crop.

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