Karnataka Planters’ Association estimates a flat domestic coffee production for crop year this fiscal to 2.95 lakh tonnes (lt).
Arabica production is estimated at 85,000 tonnes and robusta crop to be around 2.10 lt.
“This year, we expect more robusta crop and less of arabica. This is due to an ‘off year’ for arabica and also 40 per cent of plantation areas receiving patchy blossom rains,” Marvin Rodrigues, Chairman, KPA, while announcing ‘KPA-UPASI Coffee Conference’ here.
The Coffee Board’s post blossom estimate for the crop year 2012-13 is the highest ever at 3.25 lakh tonnes consisting of 1.04 lakh tonnes of arabica and 2.21 lakh tonnes of robusta.
As for current crop year 2011-12 final estimate, KPA said the arabica crop is expected to be 95,000 tonnes, an increase of 10 per cent over the previous year.
Robusta is estimated at 2 lt as the crop was low in the prime robusta belt of Balehonnur and Magundi in Chikmagalur district and southern parts of Kodagu.
The Board’s final estimate for crop year 2011-12 are 3.14 lt consisting of 1.01 lt arabica and 2.12 lt robusta.
On domestic consumption, Rodrigues said during 2011-12 it was estimated to be 1.15 lt by Coffee Board compared to 1.08 lt during 2010.