Despite Global Coffee Supply Woes, Indian Coffee Farms Are Flourishing – CoffeeTalk

Summer showers have nourished coffee plantations in Wayanad, Nilgiri, and Coorg, marking one of the best blossoming seasons in recent years. Farmers are optimistic about a bumper harvest next season and a surge in prices, as last year’s erratic summer rains and severe drought conditions led to a significant drop in production. Despite conflicting assessments from the Coffee Board of India, farmers experienced lower-than-expected output.

Saju Chirakkarakuzhiyil, a coffee farmer from Vakery near Sulthan Bathery, noted that post-harvest rains allowed plants to recover, leading to ideal conditions for flowering. He remains hopeful for a substantial harvest next year. In Coorg, Karnataka’s coffee heartland, planters are equally optimistic, with Thomas George describing the recent flowering as the best in years. He believes that if these flowers turn into beans, they are looking at a record-breaking crop.

Arabica coffee seeds recently crossed Rs 600 per kg in the Bengaluru market, a significant jump from Rs 450 per kg during the same period last year. Since November 2023, Arabica prices have increased by 70%. The price of dry coffee beans rose to Rs 171 by January 2024 and made headlines when it surpassed Rs 150 per kg.

Experts from the Coffee Board of India echo the farming community’s optimism, confirming surveys in Wayanad and the Nilgiris indicate the healthiest blooms in four years. They dismiss concerns about a potential price crash, pointing to persistent global shortages caused by adverse climatic conditions in major coffee-producing nations like Brazil.

Despite the positive outlook, the coffee market is currently subdued as many farmers hold onto their stock, anticipating further price increases. Dry coffee beans fetch Rs 267 per kg in the Wayanad local market and up to Rs 271 per kg for direct exports. With this year’s favourable conditions, the industry braces for an even larger harvest and sustained market strength.

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