Recent rains unlikely to affect coffee production in Karnataka

Speaking to media on the sidelines of a coffee conference, organised by UPASI and Karnataka Planters Association, he said these rains were not "unusual", they were not an `aberration'.
"We do get rains in the first half of November," he added.

In robusta, the rains would help fresh wood to grow which meant they would respond to the blossom showers in March adding to the prospects in the next quarter, he said.

Listing out the benefits, he said the rains coupled with low temperature would result in ensuring that the 'CBB' in robusta remain dormant. It would also hasten the ripening process, though it would mean shorter dry spell.

The rains would stem the CBB which would otherwise be active and stop them from multiplying and causing damage.
In terms of arabica, the rains along with low temperature would stem the growth of the white stem borer. It would render the beetle which would have begun flight, inactive.

He said Tamil Nadu mainly received rains from the north easterly winds and hence impact would be very minimum, while in Kerala, it was mainly robusta, hence there was no real damage. In Karnataka, the ripening in high elevation region had not commenced, hence it would not impact.
However, he said, in lower elevation region arabica in Karnataka with two to three inches rain, the impact would be felt. Out of the 20-25 percent of arabica grown in these lower elevation region around 10-15 percent could be impacted.