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Indian coffee grown in 2-tier mixed shade canopy: Board
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Thursday, 01 November, 2012, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Akshay Kalbag, Mumbai
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fiogf49gjkf0d Overview
India is the sixth larger producer of coffee in the world. It accounts for over four per cent of the global coffee output, and more than 90 per cent of this is produced in the southern states. In 2011-2012, India produced over 3.20 million tonnes and the employment generated was over 11 lakh. The country has over 1.71 lakh coffee farms in the country, spanning nearly 9,00,000 acres of coffee trees. Robusta is the more predominant of the two varieties grown in India, accounting for about 64 per cent of the total output.
India's coffee exports
In 2005-2006, India is said to have exported more than 440,000 pounds of coffee. It was a slight decline compared to the previous season's figure, and about five per cent less than the quantity exported in 2004. More than 25 per cent of the country's coffee exports go to Italy. Russia, which is the second largest importer of Indian coffee, accounts for over fifteen per cent of the country's coffee export.
Coffee Board of India
Indian coffee is unique in the sense that it is the only country where all its coffee is cultivated under shade. It is mild and not acidic, and there is no compromise on the taste and aroma. It is believed to have been introduced to the country about four centuries ago, when a visiting saint brought seven beans from Yemen and planted them in Karnataka's Chandragiri hills. For over 150 years, India has consistently produced a wide range of coffees which are sought-after in many countries of the world on account of their quality.
According to Coffee Board of India, “India cultivates all its coffee under a well-defined two-tier mixed shade canopy, comprising evergreen leguminous trees. Coffee plantations have almost fifty different varieties of shade trees. Shade trees not only prevent soil erosion on a sloping terrain, but also enrich the soil by recycling nutrients from the deeper layers, protect the coffee plant from seasonal fluctuations in temperature, and provide a natural habitat for many species of animals and plants.”
“Coffee plantations in India also have a variety of spices and fruit growing alongside. These include pepper, cardamom, vanilla, oranges and bananas. The coffee-growing regions of India have a mix of climatic conditions, and each of these is conducive for the cultivation of a different variety of coffee. Regions with high elevations are ideally suited for growing Arabicas, and those which have warm and humid conditions are best suited for Robustas,” the board, which functions under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, stated.
Arabica and Robusta – A comparison
Both Arabica and Robusta need deep, friable soil, which is rich in organic matter, well-drained and is slightly acidic (with a pH ranging between 6.0 and 6.5).
The former grows best on gentle to moderate slopes, whereas either gentle slopes or fairly level fields are ideal for the cultivation of the latter. Arabica needs a higher elevation (between 1,000m and 1,500m) to grow than Robusta, which would require an elevation of 500m-1,000m. The main growing areas for both varieties are the northern, eastern and north-eastern parts of the country.
The temperature needed for the cultivation of Arabica ranges between 15 degrees Centigrade and 25 degrees Centigrade. It should be cool and equable. However, Robusta grows best in temperatures ranging between 20 degrees Centigrade and 30 degrees Centigrade, and requires a hot and humid climate. The former grows best in places where the relative humidity ranges between 70 and 80 per cent, and conducive conditions for the growth of the latter include 80-90 per cent humidity.
The annual rainfall ideal for the cultivation of Arabica ranges between 1,600mm and 2,500mm, whereas the ideal amount of rainfall for the growth of Robusta ranges between 1,000mm and 2,000mm. The blossom showers for the former occur in March-April, and the ideal amount ranges between 25mm and 40mm. For the latter, they occur in February-March and are roughly in the same range. About 50-75mm of backing showers fall in April-May for Arabica and a similar amount falls in March-April for Robusta. These are well distributed.
Important varieties
Kents: Kents, named after an English planter who selected it in the 1920s, is one of the foremost varieties of Arabica. It was popular with the planting community till the 1940s on account of it being less susceptible to rust. To date, it is grown in a few years and continues to be renowned for its cup quality.
S.795: It was among the most popular Arabica selections during the 1940s, owing to its high yields, bold beans, quality and of course, tolerance to leaf rust. In fact, Kents Arabica was used in its development. S.795, which offers a balanced cup with subtle flavour notes of Mocha, remains a widely cultivated variety of Arabica.
Cauvery: It is known as Catimor, on account of being a descendant of a cross between Caturra – a mutant of the Bourbon variety – and Hybrido-de-Timor. Cauvery, therefore, has inherited the high yielding attribute and the quality of the former, and the resistance of the latter.
Selection 9: Selection 9 has been derived from a cross between Tafarikela – an Ethiopian Arabica collection renowned for its cup quality (which Selection 9 has inherited) – and Hybrido-de-Timor. It is an award-winning variety.
South India is referred to as the cradle of Indian coffee. In fact, Bababudangiris in Karnataka is known as the birthplace of coffee in the country. But coffee plantation also takes place in the Eastern Ghats and the North-eastern states.
According to Coffee Board of India, “The coffee-growing areas of India are divided into three categories, namely traditional areas (which include Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu); non-traditional areas (which include Andhra Pradesh and Odisha), and the north-eastern region, comprising the 'Seven Sister States', namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.”
Region-wise specifications Anamalais (Tamil Nadu)
Located at an altitude of approximately 1,000-1,400 metres above sea level, the Anamalais receive about 2,500-3,000mm of rainfall. The main type of coffee cultivated here is Arabica. The area under coffee cultivation is 2,500 hectares, and the average production is about 1,500 million tonnes. All the aforementioned varieties of coffee – namely Kents, S.795, Cauvery and Selection 9 are grown here. Pepper, oranges and bananas are the major intercrops.
Araku Valley (Andhra Pradesh)
It is located at an elevation of about 900-1,100 metres above sea level and receives between 1,000 and 1,200mm of rainfall. Arabica is the main type of coffee cultivated here, particularly S.795, Selection 4, Selection 5 and Cauvery. The total area under coffee cultivation is 20,000 hectares and the average production is about 3,100 million tonnes. The main intercrops are pepper, mangoes, jackfruit and vegetables
Bababudangiris (Karnataka)
Believed to be the nursery for Arabica cultivation (particularly S.795, Selection 9 and Cauvery), the Bababudangiris are located at an elevation of about 1,000-1,500 metres above sea level and receive about 1,750-2,200mm of rainfall. The total area under coffee cultivation is about 15,000 hectare and the average production is about 10,500 million tonnes. Pepper, cardamom and areca nut are the chief intercrops
Nilgiris (Karnataka/ Tamil Nadu)
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