C5F-INDIAN AGRICULTURE - CASH CROPS-COFFEE

COFFEE

Coffee is a brewed beverage prepared from roasted seeds, commonly called coffee beans, of the coffee plant. Due to its caffeine content, coffee has a stimulating effect in humans. Today, coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide.

Coffee berries, which contain the coffee bean, are produced by several species of small evergreen bush of the genus Coffea. The two most commonly grown species are Coffea canephora (also known as Coffea robusta) and Coffea arabica; less popular species are Liberica, Excelsa, Stenophylla, Mauritiana, Racemosa. These are cultivated in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Once ripe, coffee berries are picked, processed, and dried. The seeds are then roasted, undergoing several physical and chemical changes. They are roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor. They are then ground and brewed to create coffee. Coffee can be prepared and presented in a variety of ways.

Indian coffee bears a unique historic flavor which was introduced around four hundred years ago. Initially, the coffee plantation was limited to Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but now it has gradually reached Andhra and Orissa. To talk about the growth of Indian coffee is mainly to mention its diverse climate condition, suitable for cultivation of different varieties of coffee. Arabicas, a mild quality coffee grows tremendously in the high elevation regions of the country whereas Robustas needs humid condition to cultivate.Coffee was believed to have set off in Cachar district of Assam in the year 1853. The supplementary coffee plantation area in the non-traditional regions was projected in the North Eastern Region. Coffee Plantation in India is successfully providing employment to tribal people inhabiting the hill areas of the region which also tremendously helps in preventing soil erosion. Coffee Plantation is synonymous to afforestation and thus improving the ecology of the North Eastern Region and the socio-economic condition of India.
Coffee is a labor-intensive crop which needs at least 2.5 people per hectare for growth and maintenance. North-Eastern regions of India such as Mizoram, Cherapunjee, Meghalaya, Tripura and Assam are blessed with a lot of Coffee gardens in India. India is now happy to get large varieties of coffees, as nearly 50 diverse sorts of shade trees are found in Indian coffee plantation.The process of Coffee cultivation in India is based on a precise two-tier mixed shade canopy, including evergreen leguminous trees. A large array of spices and fruit crops as vanilla, orange, banana, pepper and cardamom cultivate together with coffee plants. India is popular for offering the unique under shade coffee to its visitors. Characteristically mild and not too acidic, the Indian Coffee is liked and preferred for possessing an exotic full-bodied taste with a fine fragrance.

•TEMPERATURE: 18 to 28 degree C
sensitive to cold and frost
RAINFALL: 125 cm to 250 cm
SOIL: Loamy soil with humus content, well drained hill slopes between 450 m to 1800 m altitude are suitable
AREAS AND STATES: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri Hills, Cardamon Hills, Anamalai Hills,

METHODS OF FARMING

•Seeds are sown in nurseries and then transplanted on coffee estates
•Young plants are sheltered from the sun by shady trees
•Regular pruning is must .

Kona "Snow" At the peak of bloom, Kona coffee branches look as though they hold strings of freshly fallen "snow". Kona coffee is a member of the gardenia family and these beautiful white blossoms permeate the air with their heavenly sweet smell. When we have a rainy winter, we often have Kona coffee "snow" at the same time as some of the coffee cherry is ripening into a blush .

Coffee blush at harvest time When the coffee reaches a robust fullness and a bright red blush, it is selectively picked, often taking several pickings before all of the coffee has been harvested.

STAGE ONE.MANUAL SELECTION OF GOOD CHERRIES FROM BAD ONE.

A cup of good coffee can be completely ruined by a few coffee cherries mixed with the good one. Therefore a lot of care must be taken. This is where we start after bringing coffee from the field to spread on a mat and carefully manually remove all the over ripe cherries, the unripe (green and twigs or leaves which may have mistakenly fallen during the picking period. This is the firststage of grading. The small cherries are also removed .
•The freshly picked coffee is taken to coffee mill and pulped which removes the outside cherry skin. The coffee mill redwood tank holds the coffee during the 24-hour fermentation process.
•The coffee is sent from the coffee mill by chute onto a drying rack which is a large platform on the rooftop. Here it is sun dried to perfection until the moisture content level is correct.
•Now the coffee is ready to be hulled. Once the parchment surrounding the green coffee bean has been removed, it is ready for roasting.

Ripening of coffee fruits
PROCESSING

•Coffee berries are processed in two ways
1.WET METHOD: Berries are fermented, washed, dried and roasted.
2.DRY METHOD: Berries are dried in the sun and then pounded to remove outer cover.

TYPES OF COFFEE:-
1.ARABICA COFFEE
2.ROBUSTA COFFEE
3.LIBERICA COFFEE

LET US REVISE:
a. State the climatic conditions required for the cultivation of coffee in India. Name two states in India where coffee is grown.
· TEMPERATURE – Coffee plant requires temperature between 15 0 C to 280 C throughout the year.
Frost is highly injurious to the coffee plant. In the early stages of its growth, this plant has to be protected from hot winds. Direct rays of the sun are also damaging, so coffee is grown in the shade of trees.
· RAINFALLl: Rainfall between 150 cm and 200 cm is sufficient for coffee. This rainfall should be well distributed throughout the year.
· SOIL – Volcanic soil on well-drained hill slopes is idea for a coffee plant. Soil should also contain ample humus contents. In India, coffee is grown in red and laterite soils.
It is grown in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu. Karnataka is the leading producer.

b. State two problems faced by coffee cultivatiors in India.
Two problems faced by coffee cultivators in India are:
· Yield per hectare is very low. Therefore the total production of coffee in India is low as compared to other countries of the world. It is due to lack of high-yielding plants, poor and outdated management techniques and unimpressive use of manures and pesticides.
· India faces stiff competition in international markets from Kenya, Brazil.
· The quality of coffee is also poor and fluctuates frequently depending upon climatic and soil conditions in India.

c. Name three main varieties of coffee. Which variety is grown in India? Why are the following trees commonly grown in a coffee estate?
i. Dalap and Silver Oak ii. Orange and plum iii. cardamom
Arabica(Superior quality), Robusta and Liberica are three main varieties of coffee.
Arabica which is a superior quality coffee is grown in India.
· A coffee plant yields a full crop after it is six to eight years old. So to cover up this long period,
coffee estates are interplanted with orange trees, cardamom and pepper vines to obtain additional income.
· Coffee plant should be sheltered from direct sunlight, especially when the plants are young. This is another reason for growing other plants along with coffee plant.

d. Explain the sowing procedure of coffee plant.
* Seedlings or cuttings which have been prepared in nurseries are transplanted in well prepared land in
furrows, 3m apart.
* Trees are planted to protect the plants from sun rays.

e. Explain the harvesting procedure of coffee plant.
* Coffee berries grow along the stem and at the branching leaves. These berries are plucked by hand. The branches of coffee plant that have borne fruit are pruned every year. The plucked berries are then processed and ground into powder.

f. What is the importance of roasting?
Roasting is done to improve the flavour and taste of coffee. Roasting gives brown colour and pleasing aroma.

g. Mention two methods of processing coffee. or In which two ways coffee berries are processed?
i) Wet or Parchment method – In this method, coffee beans are fermented and washed in tanks several
times. Then they are dried and cured. Machines remove the thin skin of the berries called parchment.
ii) Dry or Native method. – The outer covering of berries is removed in this method by drying them under
the sun. Seeds are pounded to remove their parchment.

h. Which state in India is the largest producer of coffee? Give two climatic/geographical conditions that favour the cultivation of coffee in that state.
Karnataka is the largest producer of coffee.
· The Western Ghats in the south-west Karnataka provide ideal altitude between 700 to 1500 metres
for coffee cultivation.
* Soil here is loamy, well drained nd rich in iron and humus content.
* TEMPERATURE – It requires temperature between 15 0 C to 280 C throughout the year which is
found in Karnataka.
· RAINFALL – Rainfall of 125 to 200 cms from the south-west monsoons are highly suitable for
coffee in Karnataka.
* Sunny days and dry weather required for drying of berries are also available in Karntaka.

i. When and where was the first coffee plantation set up in India?
The first coffee plantation was set up in Karnataka in 1830 A.D.

j. Karntaka is the leading producer of coffee. Discuss various factors responsible for this. OR
Which state is the largest producer of coffee? Give two climatic conditions that favour the cultivation of
coffee in that state.

· Karntaka
· Coffee grows in tropical highland at altitudes varying between 900 m and 1800 m and the Western Ghats in the south west Karnataka provide ideal altitude.
· The temperature of Karntaka varies between 15 degree to 28 degree C and rainfall between 125 cm to 200 cm which are suitable for coffee cultivation.
· Coffee requires well drained soil which is found in this region.

k. How is coffee planting take place? Discuss.
* Before sowing the seeds of coffee, land is cleared from unwanted bushes and trees. Terraces are formed
on the hill slopes and contour drains are provided. Shady trees are planted a year in advance.
* Coffee seeds are planted in specially prepared seed beds. After about 45 to 50 days, they are transplanted
in the fields.
*The same coffee plant is replanted in coffee estate when it is of six months to two years old.


l. Why are the following trees commonly grown in a coffee estate?
i. Dalap and Silver Oak ii. Orange and Plum

i. Dalap and Silver Oak are grown to protect the young plants from heat.
ii. Orange and Plum are grown in a coffee estate for not only giving shelter but for earning extra income.