Export target of coffee will be achieved: UPASI chairman

Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, Sep 15 (UNI) Coffee Board chairman G V Krishna Rau today expressed confidence that the country's export target of 2.05 lakh tonnes of coffee valued at Rs 1,500 crore for the current fiscal would be achieved.

Addressing the session on commodities outlook at the 113th annual conference of the United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) here, he said as on September 12 this year, the export stood at 1,28,225 tonnes, compared to 91,480 tonnes last year, an increase of 20 per cent.

The export of 2005-06 crop (as per the export permits issued by the board) has already crossed 1,52,000 tonnes, he added.

Speaking about the production, Mr Rau said owing to the favourable weather condition, the post blossom crop estimates for the 2006-07 crop was placed at 3,00,300 tonns of Arabica and 1,96,600 tonnes of Robusta.

Mr Rau said on the export front, focus would be on export of coffee in value added terms to achieve better realisations. Since India lacks the necessary factor, advantages to compete head-on with major coffee producing origins like Brazil and Vietnam. A viable short to medium term strategy would be to operate on a competitive platform by riding on our strengths like washed Robustas, value-added coffee, speciality coffee and estate brands, he added.

Mr Rau stressed the need for strengthening collective of small coffee growers as it would help build a strong reliable and responsive supply chain which would ensure remunerative returns for their produce.

UNI KS ROY PAG1813