Despite rampant white stem borer (WSB) menace and long days of dry period after blossom, coffee production is set to increase by 28,800 tonnes (9.05 per cent) over the final estimate of previous year 2012-13 (3,18,200 tonnes).
The Coffee Board, which released the post-blossom crop forecast, said for the year 2013-14, coffee production is estimated at 3,47,000 tonnes.
Of the total estimate, the arabica and robusta break up is 1,11,000 tonnes and 2,36,000 tonnes respectively. Arabica production has shown an increase of 12,400 tonnes (12.88 per cent) over the final estimate of 2012-13, while robusta increased by 16,400 tonnes (7.47 per cent).
By the states, the production gain has mainly come from Karnataka to the tune of 18,890 tonnes (8.21 per cent) and non-traditional areas (NTA) with 1,780 tonnes (28.57 per cent) while Kerala has shown an increase of 6,350 tonnes (9.89 per cent) and Tamil Nadu by 1,755 tonnes (10.10 per cent) compared to the previous 2012-13 season’s final estimate.
“Due to the drought like conditions (April-May), the crop setting in arabica and robusta has been severely effected. Also there were many incidences of WSB in arabica plantations.
The Karnataka Planters’ Assocation (KPA) estimates that there will be a drop of 20 per cent due to this weather-related problems, said Nishant R. Gurjer, Chairman, KPA.
In Karnataka, all the three districts recorded increase in production over the previous year with an almost equal share of arabica and robusta. Kodagu district recorded the highest increase of 14,420 tonnes (12.02 per cent) which is mainly accrued from robusta (11,620 tonnes or 11.77 per cent) and arabica gained by 2,800 tonnes (13.15 per cent).
Hassan district recorded an increase of 3,535 tonnes (10.84 per cent) which has come from both arabica (2,635 tonnes or 14.02 per cent) and robusta (900 tonnes or 6.52 per cent).
While Chikmagalur showed an increase of 935 tonnes from Arabica, the robusta production showed a decline of 2,940 tonnes (-7.30 per cent) over the previous year final estimate.
“Due to prolonged and unprecedented drought of over 50 days, there has been a spurt in the WSB pest that has devastated the arabica plants. We have also been unable to carry out the regular operations like spraying and manuring on time due to lack of rains in May. As for robusta, due to severe constraints of power and water resources, we were unable to cover our entire area for blossom and backing irrigation. We feel the blossom estimate may have to be revised further downward in view of prevailing conditions,” said Sahadev Balakrishna, Partner, Netraconda Estates, Chikmagalur.
“The arabica production regained in 2013-14 season in Karnataka mainly because of the biennial bearing nature of arabica as last year’s final estimate was low,” said the coffee board official.
The blossom showers are reported to be normal in all most all the coffee growing zones, while there was a delay in backing showers in certain pockets were reported. “In general good crop condition and better husbandry practices have helped to invigorate production in Karnataka. The crop forecast for Karnataka is placed at 86,735 tonnes of arabica and 1,62,380 tonnes of robusta totalling 2,49,115 tonnes,” the official explained.
Kerala coffee zones also have received adequate and timely blossom and backing showers. There was no adverse effect on crop was reported.
Accounting this, the post-blossom estimates for the 2013-14 is placed at 70,550 tonnes, which is an increase of 9.89 per cent (6,350 tonnes) over the previous 2012-13 final estimate of 64,200 tonnes.
Tamil Nadu post-blossom forecast is placed at 19,125 tonnes which also showed an increase of 1,755 tonnes (10.10 per cent) mainly in Pulneys and Shevroys region against the previous year final estimate of 17,370 tonnes.
In non-traditional areas of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa and north eastern region, the post-blossom forecast is placed at 8,210 tonnes against previous final estimate of 6,405 tonnes.
The higher forecast has come mainly from Andhra Pradesh and Orissa due to increase in bearing area.
2012-13 production was 3,18,200 tonnes
The final coffee production 2012-13 estimate is 318,200 tonnes, an increase of 2,700 tonnes (0.86 per cent) over the post monsoon estimate of 315,500 tonnes and an increase of 4,200 tonnes (1.34 per cent) over the previous year’s 2011-12 final estimate of 314,000 tonnes.
The Coffee Board, which released the final crop estimate for 2012-13, said of the total final estimate, the share of Arabica is 98,600 tonnes and that of Robusta is 219,600 tonnes.
The production of Arabica has shown a marginal decline of 1625 MT (-1.62 per cent) while Robusta increased by 4,235 tonnes (2.01 per cent) over the post-monsoon estimate made before crop harvesting in 2012. The loss in Arabica production and the production gain in Robusta has mainly come from Karnataka.
The final crop estimate for Karnataka is placed at 230,225 tonnes with a break up of 77,425 tonnes of Arabica and 1,52,800 tonnes of Robusta. The final production in Karnataka has shown a marginal increase of 3,020 tonnes (1.33 per cent).
The Arabica production has marginally declined in Chikmagalur (-1.32 per cent), Kodagu (-1.87 per cent) and Hassan of (-1.96 per cent) districts, while Robusta production shown an increase in Chikmagalur (8.33 per cent), Kodagu (1.15 per cent) and in Hassan (0.55 per cent) districts.
In Kerala, the final estimate of 2012-13 is placed at 64,200 tonnes with an increase of 375 tonnes (0.59 per cent) from the post monsoon estimate of 63,825 tonnes.
Tamil Nadu final production of 2012-13 is placed at 17,370 tonnes which is a marginal decline of 380 tonnes over the post monsoon estimate of 17,750 tonnes.
In the Non-Traditional Areas and North Eastern Region, the final estimate of 2012-13 is placed at 6,405 tonnes against post monsoon estimate of 6,720 tonnes which showed a marginal decline of 215 tonnes in Andhra Pradesh.