With the traditional coffee growing area in the country almost reaching its saturation point, new and non-traditional areas are coming up.

Currently, the three southern states Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu dominate coffee production. However, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are also joining the group.

According to the Coffee Board of India, the three southern states account for about 92 per cent of the total coffee growing areas in the country.

While Karnataka leads the pack in terms of coffee growing with an area of about 53 per cent, Kerala accounts for 28 per cent followed by Tamil Nadu with 11 per cent. Now the governments in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are showing keen interest to popularaise the coffee production.

“In both the states, coffee plantation is expected to come up in an additional area of over 10,000 hectares by the end of the 12th plan period,” a senior officer from Coffee Board told Express. People living in hilly areas like Munumuluru, Chintapalli (E), Chintapally (W) and Arakuvalley in Andhra Pradesh and Koraput in Odisha have taken to coffee plantation.

At present, the number of coffee producers in Andhra Pradesh stand at about 115,877 and about 45,715 in the neighbouring. According to the Coffee Board officials, the total post blossom estimate of coffee production for 2013-14 was pegged at about 3.47 lakh metric tonnes.

Both the states are expected to contribute about 6,230 metric tonnes. At present, the total planted area accounts for about 58,131 hectares in AP and about 3,835 hectares in Odisha. Vijayan Rajesh of United Planters Association of South India, however, said the attempt to popularaise coffee growing in AP and Odisha, was only of ‘social interest rather than any commercial interest.’

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by M Venkatesh – ENS – Bangalore / October 17th, 2013