CCRI to come out with new variety of coffee

Balehonnur (Karnataka), July 16: A new high yielding variety of Coffee, resistant to white stem borer and other pests, developed by the Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) here, will be released commercially in December.

Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh, who was on a tour of coffee growing districts of Karnataka to interact with the growers of Chikmagalur, Kodagu and Hassan during the weekend, told newsmen here the 85 year-old Institute had succeeded in developing a new variety, which was yet to be named, for commercial use and the release would be made in Bangalore.

He, however, expressed disappointment with the Institute developing only one new variety during the last 21 years.

The Minister asked scientists to come out with new varieties at least once in five years. The last new variety released by the Institute was 'Cauvery' in 1986.

Describing the salient features of the new variety, CCRI Director of Research, Dr Jayarama, said the new variety was resistant to White Stem Borer, which had badly affected coffee crop in these parts of South India and drastically reduced output of Arabic variety from 1.25 lakh tonne to 75,000 tonne in Chikmagalur alone.

During the field trials the new variety had yielded 1200 tonne per hectare and about 500 farmers, who grew the new variety had, expressed satisfaction over the usefulness of the new variety.

The yield may go up to 2000 kg per hectare with intensive cultivation that can help gain an additional yield of 30 per cent or more.

Dr Jayaram said it was necessary the growers take extra care in bring up coffee plants as they were like children. Negligence on part of growers was main reason behind the attack of pests.

To a question, he said five new varieties were being developed by CCRI and undergoing various stages of trials. The institute would release new varieties in next five years.

The new variety, 'Sarchimar' (scientific name) produced excellent secondary branching that can be exploited to advantage with appropriate skill.

Cyclic rejuvenation of the plants after initial six-seven yields every seven years interval will also prove advantageous.

'Sarchimar' an Arabica hybrid derived by crossing 'Villa Sarchi', a mutant of Bourbon variety with Hibrido de Timor, was a spontaneous interspecific hybrid of Arabica and Robusta, he added.

UNI