Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Tuesday, Nov 08, 2005
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Tuesday, Nov 08, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agri-Biz & Commodities
-
Coffee Arabica output likely to drop 25 pc on white stem borer menace Our Bureau
Bangalore , Nov. 7 THE white stem borer menace could have eaten up close to 25 per cent of the country's arabica coffee crop this year, according to the United Planters Association of India (Upasi). A severe drought in the last two seasons has resulted in rapid borer infestation that may see a 25 per cent drop in arabica output over the initial Coffee Board crop estimates of 1.05 lakh tonnes, said Mr C.P. Kariappa, Chairman (Coffee Committee), Upasi. "The damage caused by the borer infestation is much more than what we have imagined," Mr Kariappa told a press conference on Monday. The Coffee Board, in the post-blossom forecast, had pegged the 2005-06 crop size at 2.94 lakh tonnes with robusta output estimated at 1.88 lakh tonnes while the arabicas accounting for the rest. However, the Board is yet to come up with the final post-monsoon estimates. While majority of the damage has been in the major growing areas of Chikmagalur and Kodagu in Karnataka, there would also be a small impact on the crop in Kerala, Mr Kariappa said. The plantations in the drought-prone areas were the worst affected by the borer infestation. About 20-50 per cent of arabica plants in these plantations have to be uprooted to counter the menace, Mr Kariappa said, adding it could take about six years for a coffee grower to bring back his estate to shape. The replanting subsidy given by the Government to the small growers with estates of less than 25 acres should also be extended to the large growers as they are facing a huge capital loss due to the borer menace, Mr Kariappa said. The Government is currently providing a replanting subsidy of Rs 8,000 per acre for small growers.
Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page
|
Stories in this Section |
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2005, The
Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu Business Line
|
