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The country’s coffee production for crop year 2012-13 beginning November is likely to be a record 3.25 lakh tonnes (lt). Compared with the current season, it will be higher by 11,300 tonnes or 3.60 per cent.
Releasing the ‘post blossom crop forecast’ for 2012-13,the Coffee Board said that of the total estimate, Arabica and Robusta break up is 1.04 (lt) and 2.21 (lt), respectively.
Arabica production is estimated to increase by 2,500 tonnes (2.46 per cent) over the final estimate of 2011-12, while Robusta could increase by 8,800 tonnes (4.14 per cent).
The production gain has mainly come from Karnataka to the tune of 13,860 tonnes and non-traditional areas (Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and North-East States) with 1,460 tonnes, while Kerala output could decline by 3,100 tonnes and Tamil Nadu by 910 tonnes compared with the 2011-12.
In Karnataka, production in all the three districts is expected to increase over the previous year. Major increase is forecasted in Kodagu district with 9,075 tonnes mainly accruing from Robusta (8,850 tonnes).
Hassan district could record an increase of 4,210 tonnes which has come from both Arabica (1,710 tonnes) and Robusta (2,500 tonnes), while Chikmagalur may see a marginal increase of 575 tonnes mainly in Robusta.
Weather conditions
Favourable weather conditions such as well-distributed rainfall last year helped in moisture retention for a longer period and in turn, it helped in production of more bearing wood for the crop during the current season.
The blossom showers are reported to be normal in almost all the coffee growing zones, while there was delay in backing showers in certain pockets.
In general, good crop condition and continued stable prices have helped to invigorate production in Karnataka.
Crop forecast
Taking this into account, the crop forecast for Karnataka is placed at 81,585 tonnes of Arabica and 1.53 lt of Robusta, thereby, totalling 2.34 lt.
In Kerala, the post-blossom forecast for the 2012-13 is placed at 65,000 tonnes, a marginal decline of 3,100 tonnes (4.55 per cent) over the previous 2011-12 final estimate of 68,100 tonnes.
Tamil Nadu post blossom forecast is placed at 17,440 tonnes which also showed a marginal decline of 910 tonnes (4.96 per cent) mainly in the Shevroy region against the previous year final estimate of 18,350 tonnes.
In non-traditional areas of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa and North-East, the post-blossom forecast is placed at 8,000 tonnes against previous final estimate of 6,550 tonnes.
The higher forecast has come mainly from Andhra Pradesh and Orissa due to increase in bearing area.
2011-12 crop fixed at 3.14 lakh tonnes
The Coffee Board has fixed 3,14,000 tonnes as the final crop estimate for the crop year 2011-12.
In a release, the Board said: “The final crop estimate based on crop harvest data shows 1,01,500 tonnes of Arabica (32 per cent of total) and 2,12,500 tonnes of Robusta (68 per cent of total), which showed a marginal decline of 6,000 tonnes (1.88 per cent) over the previous post-monsoon estimate of 3,20,000 tonnes.”
The production of Arabica has shown a decline of 2,225 tonnes (2.15 per cent) while Robusta declined by 3,775 tonnes (1.75 per cent) over the post-monsoon estimate made before crop harvesting in 2011.
The final crop estimate for Karnataka is placed at 2,21,000 tonnes with a break up of 79,825 tonnes of Arabica and 1,41,175 tonnes of Robusta.
Production in Karnataka has marginally declined by 2.37 per cent.
The Arabica production has declined in Chikmagalur (3.41 per cent), Kodagu (1.36 per cent) and Hassan (0.41 per cent) districts, while Robusta declined by 2.59 per cent in Kodagu, 2.56 per cent in Chikmagalur, 1.26 per cent in Hassan districts. In Kerala, the final estimate is placed at 68,100 tonnes with a marginal decrease of 250 tonnes (0.37 per cent) from the previous post-monsoon estimate of 68,350 tonnes.
The Tamil Nadu production is placed at 18,350 tonnes with a negligible decrease of 40 tonnes over the post-monsoon estimate of 18,390 tonnes.
In the non-traditional areas and the north eastern regions, the final estimate for 2011-12 is placed at 6,550 tonnes, which marginally declined by 405 tonnes (6.35 per cent) in Andhra Pradesh.
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