Hit by flood, India’s coffee output may drop by 20% in 2018-19

India’s coffee production may fall by 20 per cent to around 2,53,000 tonnes because of severe floods in coffee-producing states Karnataka and Kerala, a Coffee Board official said. Karnataka and Kerala account for 90 per cent of the coffee production in India.

”Coffee estates in Karnataka have been reduced to a pile of mud due to massive landslides. The industry is estimating coffee production in 2018-19 to fall by at least one-fifth due to floods,” the board official told media.

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According to the board data, the country is estimated to have harvested 3,16,000 tonnes of coffee in the 2017-18 marketing year (October-September). In the current 2017-18 marketing year, Karnataka is estimated to have harvested 2,22,300 tonnes of coffee and Kerala 65,735 tonnes, the Board data showed.

However, heavy rains in August triggered flash floods and landslides in multiple locations in coffee growing districts of of Kerala and Karnataka. Now, coffee crop has been damaged in 2.26 lakh hectare, and losses are estimated to the tune of Rs 654 crore as per the government report.

India exports both Robusta and Arabica varieties of coffee to countries like Italy, Germany and Russia.

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Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has demanded the central government to provide Rs 654 crore funds for relief-affected coffee growers in the state.