Post-blossom coffee production for 2012-13 may rise at 325,300 tonne

The Coffee Board has finalized the Post-blossom coffee production forecast for the current year (FY 2012-13). As per their forecast the Post-blossom coffee production for 2012-13 is set to rise at 325,300 tonne. This is a rise of 3.59% over the final estimate of the previous year, which stood at 314,000 tonne.

Of the total production estimate of 325,300 tonne, the Arabica variety is expected to contribute 104,000 tonne while Robusta variety would contribute 221,300 tonne respectively. Arabica variety production is estimated to show an increase of 2.46% at 2,500 tonne over the final estimate of 2011-12, while Robusta variety is expected to increase by 8,800 tonne, an increase of 4.14%.

The production gain has mainly come from Karnataka to the tune of 13,860 tonne and Non Traditional Areas with 1,460 tonne. On the other hand, Kerala and Tamil Nadu has shown a decline of 3,100 tonne and 910 tonne respectively compared to the previous 2011-12 season’s final estimate.

In Karnataka, all the three districts - Kodagu, Hassan and Chikmagalur are expected to show an increase in production over the previous year. This increase in production can be attributed to the favourable weather conditions like well distributed rainfall during the last year which in return helped in moisture retention for longer period which helped in production of more bearing wood for the crop during the current season. Also, the blossom showers are reported to be normal in all most all the coffee growing zones, while there was delay in backing showers in certain pockets.

Further, the coffee production estimates for the previous year (FY 2011-12) based on crop harvest data has also been finalized by the Coffee Board along with the Post-Blossom crop forecast. For the year 2011-12, the final crop estimate based on crop harvest data is placed at 314,000 tonne comprising of 101,500 tonne of Arabica constituting 32.32% to total production and 212,500 tonne of Robusta constituting 67.67% to total production, which showed a marginal decline of 6,000 tonne over the previous post monsoon estimate of 320,000 tonne. Arabica production stood at 101,500 tonne down by 2.15% while Robusta crop slid by 1.75% to 212,500 tonne.