Coffee producers join hands to boost Arabica output globally

To tackle the declining trend in Arabica production, all producing countries of the variety have joined hands for a coffee research programme.

Under this programme, the producers have agreed to share the Arabica coffee varieties and evaluate among them in the 11-12 coffee growing countries.

“We are going to get about 26 varieties from all over the world. We have contributed four varieties. Our varieties will be tried in the 12 different countries, evaluated to see which particular geography and agro-climatic condition is best suited for growing the variety,” Y Raghuramulu, Director-Research, Coffee Board said.

This global collaboration, he said, would help give some leads to 1 or 2 varieties that are superior to what is presently grown here.

According to FAO statistics, coffee yield level in India at 845.6 kg/hectare is far below the 2013 Vietnam yield level of 2,499.1 and Brazil’s 1,421.5.

Interestingly, a comparison of productivity levels in 1971 vis-à-vis 2013 clearly suggest that only India (-1.8 per cent) and Indonesia (-0.07 per cent) have reported a drastic decline in yield levels in the last forty years.

Lower productivity in India has been attributed to non-release of better clones, limited mechanisation, pest infestation and paucity of labour.

Much needs to be done to step up productivity – both at the policy level and farm level, an UPASI source said, adding, “this global collaboration would probably give some leads. It is early days yet.”

Higher premiums Coffee markets the world over have been highly volatile in recent times.

Sufficient buffer stock with major exporters, depreciation of currency of major coffee producing countries (Brazil Real dropped to 12-year low, Columbia’s Peso, Vietnam’s Dong and Indian Rupee depreciated) and the release of more coffee to market saw the prices slide since January, said Y Raghuramulu, Director-Research, Coffee Board.

He was speaking at the 122nd UPASI Annual Conference – Commodity Outlook session on Coffee.

Citing the higher differentials for Indian coffee, Raghuramulu said, “Indian Arabicas have been placed at higher premium in international market than Columbian milds and Robustas – perceived among the best in the world.”

Export scenario This recognition for Indian coffee in international markets steadily transformed coffee exports from commodity exports to exports of differentiated products. Export of bulk green coffee slipped from 94 per cent in the early 1990s to 59 per cent in 2014-15.

Specialty coffee exports registered a six-fold increase in the last two decades from 2,219 tonnes in 1995-96 to 12,715 tonnes in 2014-15.

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