Declining price of Robusta coffee in the market and erratic rainfall during the harvesting season have put the coffee growers in Wayanad, a major coffee cultivating area in the State, in distress. The spot price of raw coffee in the district on Saturday was Rs.3,750 a bag (54 kg) as against Rs.4,400 a month ago – a drop of nearly 15 per cent in a month.
The price of coffee beans declined from Rs.145 a kg to Rs.128 during the corresponding period.
International price
The international price for the produce closed at $1,864 a tonne in London market on Friday as against $2,100 about a month ago. However, the impact of fall in international prices on the growers was cushioned by the depreciation of the Rupee against Dollar, said Prasanth Rajesh, president, Wayanad Coffee Growers Association.
After the sharp fall in the prices of tea and rubber in the market, coffee has been the mainstay of the farmers.
But, coffee production has dipped nearly 10 per cent last year owing to berry drops following heavy rain during the monsoon, said Praksah Madathi, joint secretary, WCGA.
According to Anoop Palakkunnu, secretary, WCGA, the erratic monsoon in the midst of harvesting added to the worries of the farmers.
Spikes had been formed after the rains, resulting in coffee blooming in different stages.
It would not only delay coffee picking this season but also hamper the regular picking operation next year, he said.