Coffee Production To Be Satisfactory This Season In Karnataka

BENGALURU: Coffee harvesting season is nearing end in Karnataka and the Karnataka Growers Federation expects coffee production of about 3, 90,000 tonnes this season despite untimely rainfall in January affecting the yield.

Previous season, Karnataka accounted for about 3, 70, 000 tonnes while this year the coffee production would be slightly ahead and Karnataka’s Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu are the major coffee growing areas. Other coffee producing States of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Odisha, North-East States contribute to another 30 percent of nation’ total coffee production.

Karnataka Growers Federation Secretary Surendra told Deccan Chronicle on Friday “The State accounts for 70 percent of coffee production and this season, coffee production would meet the expected target of the Coffee Board of India.”

As of now, harvesting of premium variety Arabica coffee beans has been completed which lasts November to December while growers of Robusta variety of coffee complete their harvesting around February 15. Usually, Robusta is grown extensively in Karnataka which contributes to about 3, 10,000 tonnes and the premium variety Arabica is produced about 60,000 tonnes.

However, Surendra said “The exact data of coffee growers in Karnataka is unavailable since more acres have come under coffee cultivation over the years. Even the Coffee Board does not have exact data on the acres under coffee cultivation.”

“Growers expect better returns from their produce since the cost of cultivation touched Rs 1 lakh an acre nowadays while it was about Rs 70,000 an acre earlier,” said Surendra.

A Coffee grower Mohan Kumar of Hanabalu in Sakleshpur of Hassan district doubted the coffee production meeting the target expected by Coffee Board and he cited there was cyclone induced rainfall in May last year. To add to the problems of coffee growers, he said, Sakleshpur and surrounding districts received excess rainfall.

The grower said usually the region receives about 90 inches of rainfall a year but it was 140 inches leading to increased moisture and he added “Some crops withstand but others get affected.” Mohan said he came across several growers complaining of low yield this season.