Coffee harvest to be lower than forecast

KOCHI: Indian coffee production for the current year will be lower than estimates with diseases and weather vagaries affecting the crop. Prices are expected to remain firm despite dim export prospects as the coffee stock in the country is thin.

Coffee Board's post-monsoon crop forecast for 2012-13 has been pegged at 3,15,500 tonnes, a 3% reduction over the post-blossom estimate of 3,25,300 tonnes. But this is higher by 0.48% over the crop estimate in 2011-12.

But growers feel the output will be still lower. "We fear a drop in Arabica production. As for Robusta, it is too early to say anything as the pickings have just started," said Marvin Rodrigues, former chairman of Karnataka Planters' Association.