Shortage of robusta parchment likely as growers prefer to dry process cherry coffees this season

Bengaluru, February 25

Speciality quality coffee robusta parchment is likely to face a lack this period as most growers have opted to dry system robustas, converting them into cherry coffees thanks to better costs witnessed in the early aspect of the harvest period. , Parchment coffees are generated from absolutely ripened fruits that are extracted via a moist milling procedure and dried in the sunlight.

Growers and curers verified that there is probable to be a scarcity of robusta parchment or washed robustas, which command a top quality in the global market place. The harvest of robustas is also coming to an finish and growers in Karnataka experience that the overall crop could be reduced than initial estimates.

Jeffrey Rebello, Vice-President, United Planters Affiliation of Southern India (UPASI), and a grower centered in Sakleshpur, said the robusta crop is much reduce than predicted as it was lousy in lots of spots. “There’s rarely any robusta parchment. Most individuals have gone for cherry this yr as price ranges have been superior to begin with and parchment charges were being nothing at all to speak about. Now there is a huge shortage and robusta cherry parchment price ranges are buying up now,” he explained.

Price ranges shoot up

Rebello estimates that the demand for robusta parchment is probably to be around 32,000-40,000 tonnes. Farmgate rates of robusta parchment have moved up from the degrees of ₹6,300-6,800 per 50 kg bag to ₹8,200-8,250. Robusta cherry price ranges which were being hovering around ₹3,900-4000 are ruling at the exact same stages.

It is estimated that about 20 per cent of the robusta coffees are damp-processed and the remaining is vry-processed (cherry espresso). According to Espresso Board facts, India generated 28,752 tonnes of robusta parchment in 2020, when robusta cherry production was 1.35 lakh tonnes.

Devaraj A N, Chairman, All India Espresso Curers Affiliation, estimates that there could be a 20 for each cent drop in robusta parchment production this calendar year. “Initially, there was small need for robusta parchment, but of late its has picked up,” he claimed.

Value differential

Historically, there utilized be a massive cost differential involving robusta parchment and robusta cherry. The parchment charges utilised to be 2 times that of cherry coffees. Even so, in the early element of this harvest period the hole narrowed and cherry caught the growers’ fascination, Devaraj mentioned.

N Ramanathan, Chairman, Karnataka Planters Affiliation, reported the shortfall in robusta crop dimension could be all over 20 per cent in the region this yr. About 70 for every cent of the harvest is above and far more clarity would be there in the following handful of months.

The KPA chairman also verified that manufacturing of robusta parchment is minimal this year, estimating the drop at all around 35 for each cent.

Strengths of robusta parchment

Bose Mandanna, a huge grower in Suntikoppa, stated the robusta crop is fantastic with a lot more cherries this 12 months. Growers have to incur an added price tag of ₹4,000 per tonne for developing robusta parchment when as opposed with cherry espresso. Although it is a drinking water-intense and highly-priced procedure, parchment has its have positive aspects aside from higher selling prices, Mandanna explained. Parchment espresso could be dried in five times, while cherry requires 15-20 days. About 24 bags of parchment make a tonne of coffee, whilst for cherry it is 38 luggage. Growers could retailer more parchment within their accessible godown place compared to cherry.

Released on


February 25, 2022