82,000 tonnes of crop loss due to rains : Coffee Board

The Coffee Board, under the Ministry of Commerce, has estimated a crop loss of around 82,000 tonnes due to heavy rains in the traditional coffee tracts across South India such as Kodagu,Chikmangalore,Hassan and Kerala.

A press release issued by the board said that a preliminary assessment of crop loss in all the major zones during the third week of August was conducted, losses identified, and reports sent to both the State and Union governments.

According to the release, the highest loss is in Karnataka, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Coffee Board staff have been deployed in calamity-hit areas and are working with the revenue administration to assess damage and offer preliminary relief. Nearly 100 personnel are involved in crop loss surveys.

The press release also stated that according to the rules, all claims for relief have to be routed through the State Disaster Relief Commissioner, to reach Government of India.

Industry representatives, however, believe that these losses may not affect prices ,which are decided on the basis of international demand and supply,as global supply is already more than the demand at present.

Officials in the Board have said it would be difficult to achieve the post-blossom estimate of 350,400 MT for 2018-19, unless the upcoming season in December sees a huge spike in cultivation. The final crop estimate based on crop harvest data for the year 2017-18 is placed at 316,000 MT, of which 95,000 MT is Arabica and 221,000 MT Robusta.

“The growers’ associations have been requesting consideration of waiver of interest on coffee loans, rescheduling of payment on outstanding loans, and reduction in interest rate for coffee loans, to 3% for loans up to ₹25 lakh and 6% for more than ₹25 lakh. The demands are justified, considering the unprecedented difficult times faced by the growers,” the release said.

“Coffee Board believes that the compensation paid under the Calamity Relief Fund through the concerned state governments under the National Disaster Management Plan will not be sufficient to recoup the losses that have occurred due to continuous unprecedented rains during the current South-West monsoon season. Hence, a special package may please be considered for the coffee growers’ fraternity by Government of India,” said the Board.