Excess rains may lead to lower coffee output this year, August 18 2013, The Hindu

Excess rainfall in key coffee growing areas of Karnataka has hit plantations badly and growers expect the output to shrink by 10-30 per cent over initial crop estimates.

Production Hit

Heavy and continuous rainfall in coffee growing regions of Coorg, Chikmagalur and Hassan districts has triggered berry droppings and fungal disease black rot of coffee, which is seen affecting the production.

These three districts accounted for over 72 per cent of the country’s coffee output of 3.18 lakh tonnes last year.

The Coffee Board in its post-blossom forecast for 2013-14 had projected an output of 3.47 lakh tonnes, a nine per cent increase over last year’s 3.18 lakh tonnes.

The output of arabica, a milder and premium variety was projected to increase by 13 per cent to 1.11 lakh tonnes, while robusta was expected to grow 7.5 per cent at 2.36 lakh tonnes.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/excess-rains-may-lead-to-lower-coffee-output-this-year/article5035269.ece?ref=relatedNews