Production technology of Coffee in India

Coffea spp is the second important commodity in the world trade after petroleum products. Commercial production of coffee comes from 2 species, viz. Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora popularly known as Arabica coffee and Robusta coffee respectively. The major coffee producing countries are Brazil, Vietnam. Indonesia, Colombia, Honduras, Ethiopia, Peru. India. Guatemala and Uganda (Anonymous, 2018). Coffee is a short day plant. In its native habitat, it is grown under the shade of tropical rain forest therefore, it is cultivated under shade to provide or imitate the similar microclimate as in its native place.
Introduction of Coffee in India dates back to 1600 A.D. It is said to have been introduced in the hills of Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka state by legendary pilgrim Baba Budan in the Chandradrona Parvatha by sowing seven seeds. The contribution of coffee in India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is about 0.05% percent in 2017-18 and the share of coffee sector in the country’s exports during 2017-18 was 0.43% (Babu et al., 2019). The traditional growing areas are in the states of Karnataka (67.7%), Kerala (23.3%) and Tamil Nadu (6.2%) and the non- traditional growing areas are Andhra Pradesh and Odisha with 3.7% production and the North east region (0.1%).
In India, coffee is commonly propagated by seeds. This method is easy to generate a large of plants. For raising nursery, seeds beds of 6m x 1m size raised 15cm from the ground level. Seeds are usually sown during December – January, at distance of 2.5-3.0 cm in regular rows and covered with thin layer of sieved soil. The beds are mulched with paddy straws and watered daily. The seedlings at ‘button or toppee’ stage (before opening of cotyledonary leaves) are transplanted into polybags. To protect young seedlings from eye-spot disease (Cercospora coffeicola) spray Captan or Dithane M (0.4%) (5g/l) or Captafol (0.3%) (3.75g/l) at 30 days interval.
Nursery care should take in selection of ideal land considering the altitude, aspect, rainfall, exposure to wind, shade tree etc. The optimum spacing for different coffee species/varieties is as follows :
Arabica: (tall varieties) 6’ x 6’, 7’ x 6’, 7’ x 7’
(semi dwarf varieties) 5’ x 5’
Robusta: 10’ x 10’, 8’ x 8’.
Soil enrichment:
Growing of leguminous green manure crops like Crotalaria, Tephrosia, cowpea, horse gram etc. in the initial years of planting may be adopted. Green manure crops should be sown during May-June and incorporated into soil before flowering.
Supressing weed growth:
In early stages of establishment of plantation, cultural practices like cover digging, scuffing, cover cropping with cowpea, horse gram etc. would be highly useful in supressing weed growth.
In established fields, integrated measures of weed control involving pre- monsoon weedicide spray, mid-monsoon slash weeding and post-monsoon weedicide spray will give satisfactory weed control.
Cover digging during the first year of planting (Oct.- Nov.).

1. Production Technology of Coffee Submitted by Alemla Imchen Dept. of Horticulture School of Agricultural Sciences Nagaland University

2. Botanical description Scientific name : Coffea sp. Family : Rubiaceae Origin : Ethiopia and Central Africa Fruit type : Drupe Edible portion : Berry Photoperiodism : Short day plant Major producing countries : Brazil Vietnam Indonesia Colombia Honduras Ethiopia Peru India Guatemala Uganda Source: FAO, 2018 Major growing states of India : Traditional growing areas Karnataka (67.7%) Kerala (22.3%) Tamil Nadu (6.2%) Non traditional growing areas: Andhra Pradesh Odisha North Eastern Region (0.1%) Source: Coffee board, 2020 3.7%

3. Introduced to India from Brazil in 17 th century by a muslim pilgrim, Baba Budan . Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI): Balahanur , Chikmagaluru , Karnataka. Founder of coffee research in India: Dr. L. C. Coleman Contribution of coffee in India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)- 0.05% (2017-2018) The two important economic species of Coffee grown all over the world are: Arabica ( Coffea arabica ) ・2n=4x=44 ・Allotetraploid ・Self pollinated ・Shrub Robusta ( Coffee canephora ) ・2n=2x=22 ・Diploid ・Cross pollinated ・Tree

4. Soil and climate Deep, friable, open textured rich in organic matter, well drained and slightly acidic (pH 6.0-6.5) Slopes: Gentle to moderate Aspect: North, East and North- East aspects Factors Arabica Robusta Elevation (m) 1000-1500 500-1000 Temperature 15-25℃ 20-30℃ Relative humidity 70-80% 80-90% Annual rainfall (mm) 1600-2500 1000-2000 Blossom showers March-April February- March Backing showers April-May March-April

5. Varieties Sl. no Varieties Parentage Remarks 1 Kents Earliest variety of Arabica 2 San Roman Arabica from Columbia/ Costa Rica Mutant variety Dwarf 3 Cauvery/ Catimor Caturra x Hybrid-de- Timor (HDT) Dwarf Highly suitable for HDP 4 Sln . 795/ Sln . 3 S-288 x Kents Most popular variety of Arabica coffee Resistant to leaf rust race I & II 5 Sln . 7 (San Ramon hybrids) San Ramon Dwarf 8 Sln . 8 Spontaneous inter- specific hybrid of Robusta-Arabica origin, followed by pureline selection Highest vertical resistance to leaf rust 9 Sel-3R ( C.Congensis x C.canephora ) x C. canephora

6. Varieties Sl. no Varieties Parentage Remarks 8 Sln . 9 HDT x Tafarikela Drought hardy Suitable for different coffee zones Won the Fine Cup award for Best Arabica at the ‘ Flavour of India, 2002’. 9 Sln . 10 Caturra x (S-795 x HDT) Drought hardy, resistant to leaf rust Suitable for different coffee zones 10 Chandragiri Villasarchi x HDT Purified 3 rd generation variety Tolerant to leaf rust and white stem borer 11 Sarchimor HDT X Villasarchi 12 S274 Developed at CCRI through mass selection Have resemblance to pure Robusta genotype 13 C x R Interspecific cross C.congensis x S274 Superior agronomic qualities

7. Seeds taken from healthy and well developed fully ripe berries. Sown in December- January, spacing: 1.5- 2.5 cm Seeds germinate in about 45 days Transplant to secondary nursery or bag nursery Nursery Management

8. Seedlings of 16- 18 months are used for field planting Planting time: June- December Spacing: Arabica: 2.0- 2.5 m Robusta: 2.5- 5.0 m San Ramon and other dwarfs: 1.2 x 1.2 m Shade plants such as Silver Oak and Dadaps are planted during June (commencement of South west monsoon) Generally grown as rainfed

9. Training system Usually trained on single stem in India Plant height is restricted by topping at prescribed heights: Tall Arabica- First topping at 0.75 m and second topping at 1.35- 1.50 m Dwarf Arabica- Single topping at 0.9- 1.5m depending on soil fertility, wind proneness etc. Robusta- Single topping at 1.35- 150m Arabica takes 9-12 months and Robusta takes 18- 24 months to reach topping height. Pruning system Centering Desuckering Handling Nipping Collar/hard pruning is done for rejuvenation of old plantations Removal of lateral shoots to regulate shade is done in medium pruning Light pruning involves removal of suckers

10. Nutrient Management Maintaining optimum pH by liming is essential for proper utilization of applied nutrients by the plant Use agricultural lime analysing 80% calcium carbonate. November is the best period for lime application. Application of dolomite lime once in a while in rotation is beneficial. Application of bulky organic manures like FYM or compost @ 5 tonnes/ha once in two years would improve the soil condition and better utilization of applied fertilizers. The recommended dose of fertilizers should be applied in three splits (post- blossom, pre-monsoon, post-monsoon) by adopting drip circle method. In sloppy areas, the fertilizers should be applied in the upper half of the drip circle. Source: Coffee board

11. Intercultural operations 1. Green manuring Cultivation of Cow pea and Horse gram for two or three years to build up soil fertility Cut before\ flowering and incorporated into soil to improve fertility 2. Scuffling Soil scuffling or stirring is done towards the beginning of the dry period to control weeds and conserve moisture. 3. Mulching 4. Weeding

12. Harvesting Starts giving yield from 3- 4 th year and full yield from 10-12 years onwards Average yield: 1.25 t/ha or 2.25-2.50 t/ha at maximum Picking of berries is done manually. Fly picking: First picking consist of selective picking of ripe berries in the month of October to Main picking: There will be 4-6 main pickings at 10-15 days interval Stripping: The final harvest consist of picking of remaining berries on plant irrespective of ripening stage. Gleanings: Collection of dropped fruits during harvest.

13. Processing Two types: Wet processing to prepare parchment/ plantation coffee) Dry processing to prepare cherry coffee In India, Arabica coffee is processed by parchment coffee while Robusta is processed by cherry coffee.

14. Wet processing Pulping Demucilaging (by natural fermentation or treatment with akali , friction) Post- fermentation soaking Drying

15. Dry processing Ripe berries are dried in sun for 12- 15 days (till a fistful of beans produce a rattling sound when shaken Hourly turnings are done while drying Optimum moisture content is 10.5% for Arabica and 11% for Robusta coffee

16. Specialty coffee Flavored coffee : With flavor of cardamom, cinnamon, lemon and saffron Decaffeinated coffee : green beans extracted with solvents like ethyl acetate to reduce caffeine to <0.1% Instant coffee (soluble coffee): Coffee extract is spray dried or freeze dried French coffee : Cichorium is added as additive to improve colour , odour and taste. Indian specialty coffee Monsooned Malabar coffee Mysore Nuggets Robusta Kaapi Royale Coorg Arabica coffee Wayanaad Robusta coffee Chikmagalur Arabica coffee Araku valley Arabica coffee Babbudangiris Arabica coffee

17. Physiological disorders Black bean, black jollo and normal jollo : common bean disorders in Arabica Pea berry: Abortion of one ovule False polyembryony or triangular seeds: Presence of 3 or more seeds Elephant bean: Formation of more than one ovule per locule Die back Pre mature fruit drop due to wet feet condition, CHO and hormonal imbalance and nutrient deficiency. Kondli or stem wasting due to Copper toxicity

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