Visakhapatnam: more than one lakh coffee farmer Alluri Sitaram Raju is facing a difficult situation in the district prices Of Cherry Coffee dropped in local market, Personal Traders Cherry coffee is being bought at Rs 120 per kg, which is much lower than the international market price of Rs 160 per kg. The sudden fall of Rs 40 in the price has put coffee farmers in deep trouble as hundreds of bags of coffee are stored in their storage rooms.
About 2.3 lakh coffee farmers in the district are cultivating coffee on 2.43 lakh acres of land in all 11 mandals. This area has increased from one lakh acres a decade ago to 1.43 lakh acres after the super cyclone Hudhud in 2014.
The state government had planned to increase coffee cultivation by 10,000 acres every year to one lakh acres in the last decade and had also consolidated 40,000 acres after Cyclone Hudhud.
About 1.9 lakh acres of coffee was grown this year, including coffee plantations owned by the AP Forest Development Corporation (APFDC), covering 10,000 acres, and tribal areas as well.
About 75% of the yield will be clean coffee, and 25% will be cherry coffee. However, the prices of both clean coffee and cherry coffee have declined, and local traders are purchasing coffee from farmers at much lower prices than market rates. Korra Bonjibabu, one of the coffee farmers, alleged that local traders were buying as per their wish and proving costly for the farmers. He said that the price of parchment coffee is encouraged but the price of cherry coffee is very disappointing.
Coffee Board official Ramesh said traders will follow the Bengaluru Market-Indian Coffee Trade Association’s prices based on the international market.
“At the beginning of the season, local traders sold cherry coffee at around Rs. Bought in. 150, but gradually the price reduced to Rs 120. Farmers are disappointed as they expected good prices this year, but local traders are looting them by reducing prices,” alleged Vantala Lakshman, another coffee farmer.
Coffee Board officials advise farmers to contact 8037685003 for national and international prices. They should not sell produce at low prices. Meanwhile, farmers are requesting the Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) to reduce the moisture percentage in the beans and procure coffee beans, as the coffee beans remain wet even after drying due to persistent fog conditions in the area.
Coffee cultivation in the forest areas of AP dates back to 1960 when the Forest Department developed coffee in 4000 hectares. The GCC and the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) helped the tribals to cultivate coffee, which proved to be a good source of income compared to other crops. However, lack of involvement and awareness of middlemen is proving costly for farmers, who are urging the GCC to take proactive steps to help them.
About 2.3 lakh coffee farmers in the district are cultivating coffee on 2.43 lakh acres of land in all 11 mandals. This area has increased from one lakh acres a decade ago to 1.43 lakh acres after the super cyclone Hudhud in 2014.
The state government had planned to increase coffee cultivation by 10,000 acres every year to one lakh acres in the last decade and had also consolidated 40,000 acres after Cyclone Hudhud.
About 1.9 lakh acres of coffee was grown this year, including coffee plantations owned by the AP Forest Development Corporation (APFDC), covering 10,000 acres, and tribal areas as well.
About 75% of the yield will be clean coffee, and 25% will be cherry coffee. However, the prices of both clean coffee and cherry coffee have declined, and local traders are purchasing coffee from farmers at much lower prices than market rates. Korra Bonjibabu, one of the coffee farmers, alleged that local traders were buying as per their wish and proving costly for the farmers. He said that the price of parchment coffee is encouraged but the price of cherry coffee is very disappointing.
Coffee Board official Ramesh said traders will follow the Bengaluru Market-Indian Coffee Trade Association’s prices based on the international market.
“At the beginning of the season, local traders sold cherry coffee at around Rs. Bought in. 150, but gradually the price reduced to Rs 120. Farmers are disappointed as they expected good prices this year, but local traders are looting them by reducing prices,” alleged Vantala Lakshman, another coffee farmer.
Coffee Board officials advise farmers to contact 8037685003 for national and international prices. They should not sell produce at low prices. Meanwhile, farmers are requesting the Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) to reduce the moisture percentage in the beans and procure coffee beans, as the coffee beans remain wet even after drying due to persistent fog conditions in the area.
Coffee cultivation in the forest areas of AP dates back to 1960 when the Forest Department developed coffee in 4000 hectares. The GCC and the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) helped the tribals to cultivate coffee, which proved to be a good source of income compared to other crops. However, lack of involvement and awareness of middlemen is proving costly for farmers, who are urging the GCC to take proactive steps to help them.
