Coffee Board predicts 9% dip in production for 2016-17 season

The Coffee Board has predicted about 9% dip in production for the 2016-17 season due to erratic rains in February and March in the Western Ghats, Parliament was informed today.

Changing climatic conditions especially erratic rainfall and high temperature have aggravated the problem, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

She also said that the white stem borer is one of the major pests affecting Arabica coffee in India.

"The Coffee Board has predicted a decline of about 9% in coffee production for the 2016-17 season in comparison with the previous year (2015-16)," the minister said.

The main coffee growing states include Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. India is one of the major exporters of the commodity.

Replying to a separate question, the minister said Asian Development Bank has submitted the final report on conceptual development plan of Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor.

ADB has approved $631 million (Rs 4,165 crore) in loans and grants for infrastructure development along VCIC in September last year.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)