Coffee production is expected to increase by 25,000 tonnes during this financial year to reach 3,80,600 tonnes, of which 1 lakh tonnes will be Robusta and the rest will be the Arabica variety, according to the Coffee Board.

“This is a good year for coffee production, which is expected to be 3,80,600 tonnes. Of this, Robusta will be 1 lakh tonnes and rest will be under Arabica,” Coffee Board of India Chairman Leena Nair, who was here for the five-day India International Coffee Festival, said, adding that the Coffee Board will work towards strengthening high-value export markets like the European Union, the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Scandinavian countries.

The domestic consumption is also growing by 5-6 per cent annually since 2000, mostly due to the coming up of a large number of coffee bars and cafes, she added.

It is heartening to note that about 35 per cent of the Indian Coffee Exports in the year 2014-15 is due to value-added products, she pointed out. This can open up many investment opportunities in the sector, she said.