The coffee yield from the non-traditional coffee growing areas of the State is expected to be higher this year compared to last year, despite this year being an ‘off year’ for coffee. This is because the extent under coffee cultivation in the State has been increased by about 8,800 hectares during the last couple of years.
The expected yield from the State – i.e., from the 11 Agency mandals of Visakhapatnam district – is 9,990 MTs and from Odisha (the hilly region of the border areas of Koraput district) is 650 MTs, Joint Director of the Coffee Board A.P. Anant Kumar told The Hindu .
The Coffee Board is an advisory body, which supplies quality and certified seeds from its coffee farms at R.V. Nagar and Minumuluru (at Chintapalli). The Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) is the implementing agency for coffee cultivation.
The total extent under coffee cultivation in the State (in the hilly areas of Visakhapatnam district) is 71,356 hectares and in Odisha (extended hilly areas of Koraput district) is 4,239 hectares. Arabica coffee, which is a better variety, high quality coffee, is suitable for the elevation of the area and climatic conditions of the region.
In 2016-17, the total coffee production was 10,450 MT s, of which 9,800 MT s was from Visakhapatnam Agency areas and 650 MT s was from Odisha. Coffee crop follows ‘on’ and ‘off’ pattern, which means if the yield is high one year, the next year, it would be low.
“This year is an ‘off year’ for coffee production but we expect a higher yield this year as new area has been added under coffee cultivation in the Agency areas of Visakhapatnam district. The ITDA had added 4,000 hectares during 2016-17 and 4,800 hectares in 2017-18 under coffee cultivation in the Agency areas of Vizag district.”
Sustainable income
The plant attains full growth in four to five years. The yield get stabilised after 10 years and continues up to 40/50 years, provided the plants are maintained properly. Coffee provides sustainable income to tribal farmers. In addition, they get additional income from silver oak, grown to provide shade to the coffee plants, and black pepper, which is grown as an inter-crop.
“The Coffee Board in collaboration with the ITDA is involved in expansion, consolidation, quality upgradation and capacity building. The schemes, being extended to coffee growers, had ended on the conclusion of the 12th Plan in March, 2017. The Board has sent a proposal to the Central government for continuation of the schemes and its approval is awaited,” Deputy Director in charge of the Coffee Board Ramesh said.
