• For plant improvement and supply of improved planting material, germplasm stocks of 315 Arabica and 14 Robusta accessions revitalized and planted in the gene bank plot
• Nine coffee germplasm materials registered with NBPGR and five more slated for registration
• A new coffee genotype Sarchimor (Nandi) being evaluated for commercial use
• Seed plots of Arabica selections in Board’s farms being further purified by vegetative means to attain uniformity in seed and clone production
• Six new genotypes of Arabica identified on the basis of yield, resistance to leaf rust, seed grades and cup quality for multi location evaluation
• Arabica mapping populations created to isolate DNA markers linked to rust resistance genes
• 32 MT of Arabica and 1.8 MT of Robusta coffee seeds supplied to the growers
• 95,000 seedlings and 58,000 clones of elite plant material supplied; 19 million seedlings made available through mini SHG groups
• Transformed tissues and somatic embryos and a few plantlets with marker genes
99
obtained in both Arabica and Robusta genotypes
• Protocols developed for isolating good quality RNA and preparing DNA and cloning these fragments to understand the molecular basis of leaf rust resistance
• Around 9000 plantlets regenerated by somatic embryogenesis and 5,000 plants planted after hardening in the trial plots
• Significant advantages not seen in tissue culture multiplication compared to multiplication through seeds
ii. Crop management
• Light pruning every year found to be better in enhancing the yield
• Phosphate solubilizing agents could bring about reduction in the dose of phosphorous fertilizers
• Coffee based intercropping systems could enhance returns to the farmers during distress
• Micro-sprinkler irrigation found to be a better option to increase production in Robusta than overhead irrigation to conserve water.
• 29,835 soil samples and 1,116 leaf samples tested to make fertilizer recommendations to ensure rational use of this costly input
• 2,118 samples of agrochemicals comprising of organic manures, liming materials, fertilizers and copper sulphate tested to assess the quality of some of the inputs
• DRIS (Diagnosis Recommendations Integrated System) norms developed for both Arabica and Robusta coffee to aid in precise application of plant nutrients.
• A few drought tolerant varieties were identified that could be used in future breeding programmes
iii. Plant protection
• 59 lakh exotic parasitoids (Sephalonomia stephanoderis) reared 59 lakh reared and 39 lakh released in the field to control coffee berry borer.
• 2.7 lakh brocatraps indigenously designed traps developed and supplied for mass trapping the berry borer beetles.
• 20,000 pheromone traps supplied to growers for monitoring and managing white stem borer.
• 6.5 lakh exotic parasitoids (Leptomastix dactylopii) reared and supplied to the growers to control mealy bug infestation.
• Some leads obtained in Bio-control of white stem borer using indigenous parasitoids, use of entomopathogenic nematodes against coffee pests and development of an effective formulation of Beauveria bassiana against coffee berry borer and shot hole borer
• Information collected on bio-ecology of white stem borer particularly its field activity studied for developing better management practices
• For effective disease management, good sources of leaf rust resistance like sarchimor, cavimor and catimor identified
100
• Leaf rust race banks established at Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) and Regional Stations at Chettalli and Thandigudi with abundant number of rust races for screening of new coffee varieties
• A fungicide namely Contaf (propiconazole) identified as a substitute for Bayleton resulting in better control of the rust pathogen
• Preliminary studies conducted towards developing bio-control tools against major and minor diseases
• Trichoderma sp., an antagonistic fungus, found useful to manage root disease problems was popularized
iv. Standardization of post harvest technology, mycotoxin and pesticide residues in Coffee
• Pulped beans treated with graded doses of powdered lime, enhanced the quality in addition to assistance in storing and drying of semi-washed parchment
• Drying trials suggested that cement, tarpaulin and polyethylene surfaces were good for drying
• Coffee wet processing machines in use evaluated for their efficiency and some of the imported pulping machines like Penagos and Pinhalense found to be good
• Mechanical drying of coffee found to be a cost additive venture
• A few effluent treatment units developed by NEERI, Nagpur and ASTRA, Bangalore evaluated; treated wastewater did not conform to standards being prescribed by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board
• The Board sponsored multi-centric projects involving Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and Mangalore University, Madikeri to develop suitable eco-friendly management practices for coffee pulp and waste water
• A multi-country ICO-CFC-FAO project on ‘Enhancement of coffee quality through prevention of mould formation” launched.
• The occurrence of Ochratoxin-A (OTA) producing moulds found primarily dependent on estate practices, especially at harvest and post harvest stages
• Beans obtained from tree dried fruits, insect damaged fruits and gleanings (fallen cherries) found to be more susceptible to contamination with Ochratoxin-A producing moulds
• The critical stages of mould contamination in coffee throughout the production chain identified and prevention strategies standardized for estate level implementation
• An Analytical Laboratory established and method of analysis of OTA in green and roasted coffee beans standardized.
• A survey of more than 90% of trade coffee samples showed OTA levels within the MRL prescribed by many coffee importing countries
• Training courses on Principles of Food Hygiene and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)” and awareness campaigns on GAP and GMP for mould prevention in Coffee conducted in all major coffee zones
101
v. Setting up of quality evaluation-testing centres, training, certification systems and on and off-farm quality up gradation
• Quality evaluation centres functioned at the Bangalore office and Coffee Centre, Chikmagalur
• 5,256 coffee samples tested as on 31.03.2006 for quality against a target of 6,750 for the Plan period
• Thirteen one-day training programmes conducted for 232 roasters and brewers meeting the target set for the Plan period
• 1,262 coffee samples evaluated as a part of the Flavour of India - Fine Cup Award cupping competition
• Thirty-nine ‘Kaapi Shastra” training programmes conducted benefiting 506 participants
• Twenty-nine students completed postgraduate diploma course on Coffee Quality Management
• Eleven cupping sessions organized during the four-year period
• Fifty-three curing works inspected for issue and or renewal of license
• Five quality awareness programmes conducted in different regions
• Four private coffee quality laboratories inspected and accreditation accorded B. Coffee development in northeast region and non-traditional areas
i. North-East Region: The main activities under the Special Area programme (SAP) for coffee development during the IX and X Plan periods are:
• Extending financial support in the form of subsidy to the tribal growers of NE Region under coffee expansion and consolidation programmes.
• Providing Market support assistance to meet the cost of collection, curing, transportation and disposal of coffee produced in the NE Region.
• Supply of seed material for taking up coffee expansion/consolidation programmes.
• Providing training on cultivation aspects/ technological inputs to the growers for production and quality related aspects.
• Establishment of SHGs as part of community approach
ii. Non Traditional Area (NTA) – Andhra Pradesh and Orissa: Under the Coffee Development programme for Non Traditional Area namely Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, the Board implemented (i) scheme on coffee consolidation in A.P. to improve the productivity of coffee areas expanded during IX plan (ii) Scheme on Coffee expansion in Orissa to bring more area under Coffee and (iii) scheme on coffee quality up-gradation to encourage tribal growers to prepare washed coffees for better returns. The achievements during X plan under the coffee Development Programme for NTA are listed in Table 3.11.
• The Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Paderu expanded coffee in an area of 13,016.8 hectares (till 2005-06) against a target of 24,000 hectares with the technical support of Coffee Board.
• About 23 metric tonnes of seed coffee distributed during the four-year period
102
• 3,364 tribal coffee growers trained on scientific coffee cultivation methods at CDF, Minimuluru and RCRS, R.V. Nagar
• 2,152 growers trained during the one-day on-farm training programme conducted at the village level
• 640 Resource persons of I.T.D.A trained on technical aspects of coffee cultivation
• 106 quality awareness campaigns conducted benefiting 5,753 growers
Table 3.11 Achievements for X Plan under the coffee development programme for NTA Scheme X plan Target (ha) X plan achievement up to
2005-06 (ha)
Coffee Consolidation A.P. 3,000 2,367
Coffee Expansion in Orissa 1,000 9,23
Quality Up-gradation Units Units
a) Baby pulpers b) Community pulpers c) Community Godown d) Mini Curing works
1,000 40 50 2
402 8 21 1 C. Promotion of organic coffee
• Area under certified organic coffee increased from 600 hectares during 2002-03 to 1,800 hectares during 2005-06 and production from 360 to 1,130 MT
• Export of organic coffee increased from 17.5MT during 2001 to 224 MT during 2005 with export earnings rising from Rs. 16 lakh to Rs. 250 lakh
• The cost of production of organic coffee higher than conventional coffee, mainly due to the high cost of inputs
• Demonstration blocks established at the Board’s farms at Chundale in Kerala, Chettalli in Karnataka, Bodinayakanur and Perumparai in Tamil Nadu and Kattapana in Kerala for the purpose of demonstrating organic coffee production
• The Board extended financial incentives in the form of subsidy towards cost of certification of organic coffee estate benefiting 2,200 growers
• Five training programmes conducted for extension personnel and nine seminars/workshops conducted for organic coffee growers covering all aspects of organic coffee production
• Two booklets and two extension folders published on specific aspects of organic farming.
103
D. Infrastructure development, capacity building and transfer of technology