The coffee production in India, Asia’s third-biggest grower, may decline slightly by 4 per cent to 5.1 million bags in the 2012-13 marketing year starting October due to average weather conditions, the USDA has said.

Coffee production in the 2011-12 marketing year (October-September) is pegged at 5.3 million bags. One bag contains 60 kg of coffee bean.

According to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest report: “Both arabica and robusta production are forecast slightly lower under the assumption that weather conditions will be normal or average“.

While robusta production is expected to decline to 3.4 million bags from 3.6 million bags, arabica output may dip to 1.66 million bags from 1.72 million bags during the period under review, it said.

The report highlighted that planted area in the traditional coffee growing regions of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala remains largely unchanged at 4,00,000 hectare. The non-traditional low yielding areas of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa have seen a marginal increase in area.

It further said there is limited scope for area expansion of coffee estates which are in close proximity to forest reserves.

Noting that growers are gradually shifting towards robusta production, the report said the shift is happening as the robusta crop is less labour intensive, higher disease resistant and lower upkeep.

India’s coffee growing regions have diverse climatic conditions, which are well suited for cultivation of different varieties of coffee. Some regions with high elevations are ideally suited for growing Arabica of mild quality while those with warm humid conditions are best suited for robusta.

On consumption, USDA said: “While coffee consumption appears to be growing, it can be difficult to establish a repeatable trend given the industry emphasis on exports“.

The bulk of India’s coffee production is exported and the domestic consumption is over one million bags.

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