Introduction: Why Coffee Farming Matters in India

Coffee is a valuable crop for many Indian farmers and rural communities. Traditionally grown in the Western Ghats—mainly in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu—coffee cultivation is expanding into Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and the North-East. Around 65–70% of Indian coffee is exported; the rest is consumed domestically. Indian coffees—especially Robusta for blending and Arabica for aroma—enjoy a good reputation internationally.

Coffee farming supports rural employment heavily: more than six lakh people get direct employment and a similar number benefit indirectly. If you manage the crop smartly, coffee can give stable income per acre for many years.

This guide keeps all figures and suggestions per acre, written in plain English and aimed at small and medium farmers.

Varieties Grown in India (Per-Acre Context)

Arabica (Coffea arabica)

• Features: Mild, aromatic, higher market value.
• Best altitude: 300–1800 m.
• Temperature: 15–25°C.
• Per-acre yield: 350–500 kg of clean beans.
• Notes: Needs more care, more shade, and is more sensitive to pests and diseases (e.g., white stem borer, leaf rust). Best on larger, well-managed holdings.

Robusta (Coffea canephora)

• Features: Stronger flavor, used in blends, hardy.
• Temperature: 20–30°C, more tolerant to heat and humidity.
• Per-acre yield: 600–900 kg of clean beans.
• Notes: Less sensitive to some diseases; suitable for small and large farms alike.

Ideal Climate, Soil, and Conditions (Per Acre)

• Rainfall: 1500–2500 mm annually (uniform distribution helps).
• Temperature: Arabica 15–25°C; Robusta 20–30°C.
• Shade: 50–60% overhead shade is generally good.
• Soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained loamy soils; pH 5.0–6.5.
• Planting density: About 1200–1400 plants per acre (spacing varies by system).

Nursery Practices (Per Acre Planning)

• Seeds: Use seeds from authorized, healthy sources only. Avoid seeds from areas infested with berry borer.
• Sowing: Sow seeds soon after purchase – seed viability is short.
• Nursery mix: Use forest soil blended with well-rotted farmyard manure (FYM) and sand.
• Seedlings required: For one acre, plan for 1200–1400 well-rooted seedlings.

Soil and Water Conservation (Per Acre Measures)

Soil and moisture conservation is essential – especially on slopes.

Problems

• Heavy erosion during monsoon on slopes.
• Moisture stress in post-monsoon/dry months.

Per-acre solutions

• Contour planting and terracing on moderate/steep slopes.
• Plant soil-binding grasses (Vetiver, Paspalum) across slopes at intervals.
• Dig staggered cradle pits or trenches across slopes to hold water.
• Mulch the base of young plants with dry leaves to conserve moisture.
• Grow green manures (Crotalaria, Tephrosia, cowpea, horsegram) in early years; sow in May–June and incorporate before flowering.

Weed Control (Per Acre Guidelines)

Young plant stage

• Manual cover-digging, scuffling, and cover crops such as cowpea/horsegram.

Established plantations

• Integrated approach: pre-monsoon herbicide spray, mid-monsoon slash weeding, and post-monsoon herbicide spray.
• Rotate herbicides: contact weedicides like Gramoxone and systemic options like Glyphosate or Roundup (use carefully and according to label).

Shade Management (Per Acre)

• Avoid cutting valuable shade trees for short-term gain.
• Maintain a two-tier shade canopy: fast-growing temporary trees (e.g., dadap) and permanent shade trees (Ficus, Albizia, jackfruit).
• At higher altitudes, temporary shade may be removed once coffee is established.
• Regulate shade every year rather than every 3–4 years – this reduces shock to coffee bushes.

Bush Management (Per Acre Care)

• Light pruning after harvest to maintain plant framework.
• Handling, centering, and desuckering during June–July (and if needed Sept–Oct) to keep productive wood.
• Rejuvenate disease-prone or off-type plants by top-working (grafting desirable varieties onto existing rootstock).

Nutrition Management (Per Acre Fertilizer & Soil Care)

• pH: Maintain optimum pH using agricultural lime (80% calcium carbonate). November is a good time for liming.
• Soil testing: Do it at least every 2–3 years to plan lime and fertilizer needs.
• Organic matter: Apply FYM/compost 5 tonnes/ha (2 tonnes/acre) once every two years to improve soil structure and nutrient use.
• Fertilizer split: Apply recommended fertilizer dose in three splits—post-blossom, pre-monsoon, and post-monsoon—using the drip circle method where possible.

Major Pests (Per Acre Monitoring & Control)

White Stem Borer (Xylotrechus quadripes)

• Symptoms: Ridges on stems, yellowing, wilting.
• Per-acre control: Monitor before flight periods (March, September); uproot and burn infested plants. Apply 10% lime solution on main stem before flight. Install pheromone traps (25 traps/acre) in highly infested blocks.

Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei)

• Symptoms: Small pinhole on berry tip; internal damage.
• Per-acre control: Timely, clean harvest; remove off-season berries; use broca traps (60 traps/acre) post-harvest; dry berries to correct moisture levels.

Shot Hole Borer (Xylosandrus compactus)

• Symptoms: Shot holes on branches; affected twigs dry quickly.
• Per-acre control: Prune affected twigs 5–7.5 cm below hole; remove and destroy infested suckers; maintain thin shade and good drainage.

Mealybugs (Planococcus spp.)

• Symptoms: Attack nodes, spikes, berries; ants indicate infestation.
• Per-acre control: Control ants by dusting quinalphos 1.5% or methyl parathion 2% at shade tree bases; destroy ant nests; spray quinalphos 25 EC or fenitrothion if required. Use parasitoids (Leptomastix dactylopii) or predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri as biological control.

Green Scale (Coccus viridis)

• Symptoms: Honeydew, sooty mold, weakening plants.
• Per-acre control: Control ants; dust quinalphos 1.5% or spray appropriate insecticides as per label.

Nematodes (Pratylenchus coffeae)

• Symptoms: Young plants lanky; leaves yellow and drop; reduced foliage.
• Per-acre control: In nursery, solarize soil by exposing to sun. In the field, uproot and burn affected plants; expose soil and keep pits weed-free. Plant grafted Arabica on robusta rootstock in affected areas.

Major Diseases (Per Acre Management)

Coffee Leaf Rust (Hemileia vastatrix)

• Symptoms: Yellow to orange spots on lower leaf surface.
• Per-acre control: Maintain optimum shade; spray 0.5% Bordeaux mixture pre-monsoon (May–June) and post-monsoon (Sept–Oct). Use fungicides like Bayleton where advised.

Black Rot (Koleroga noxia)

• Symptoms: Blackening and rotting of young leaves, berries and shoots, common in high-humidity pockets.
• Per-acre control: Maintain thin shade; good drainage; spray 1% Bordeaux mixture before monsoon. Remove and bury diseased materials; use Bavistin if necessary.

Root Diseases (Brown, Red, Black root; Santavery)

• Symptoms: Yellowing, defoliation, wilting, eventual death.
• Per-acre control: Isolate affected plants with trenches 60 cm deep, 30 cm wide. Uproot and burn dead/dying plants. Use fungicidal drenches like Bavistin 0.4% or Vitavax 0.3% in early stages. Apply Trichoderma as a biocontrol and ensure good cultural practices.

Die-back (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)

• Symptoms: Yellowing, blighting, necrosis from tips, failing floral buds.
• Per-acre control: Prune badly affected plants in Feb–Mar. Spray 0.5% Bordeaux mixture pre-blossom and during key periods. Maintain overhead shade and mulching to conserve soil moisture.

Post-Harvest: Processing and Storage (Per Acre Best Practices)

• Picking: Only harvest fully ripe (red) cherries. Overripe or unripe berries should be processed separately.
• Pulping: Pulp on the same day as harvest. Avoid prolonged piling and delayed pulping.
• Washing & soaking: Use clean water; soak parchment overnight if needed to enhance quality.
• Drying: Start on wire mesh trays to remove surface water quickly, then move to clean concrete/tiled yards. Cover at night to avoid re-wetting.
• Moisture target: Dry coffee to the recommended moisture standard (generally around 10–12%).
• Storage: Store in clean gunny bags in ventilated, dry godowns on wooden planks. Do not store near fertilizers or pesticides.

Organic Coffee in India (Per Acre Opportunity)

Advantages

• Many Indian smallholdings already practice low-input or traditional farming.
• Coffee grown under shaded, forest-like conditions naturally fits many organic standards.
• Organic coffee can earn premiums in the international market.

Challenges

• Many smallholder Robusta lots did not match specialty market quality historically.
• Premiums have narrowed at times; logistics and marketing to major importers (like the USA) matter.

Per-acre approach

• Follow Coffee Board’s organic package of practices.
• Build and maintain certification through accredited agencies.
• Use compost, green manures, Trichoderma and other on-farm biocontrols to maintain soil fertility and plant health.

Estimated Per-Acre Cost, Yield, and Income (Approximate)

Typical per-acre costs (first year and recurring items)

• Seedlings (1200–1400): ₹12,000–18,000
• Pits & planting labour: ₹10,000
• Shade establishment: ₹6,000
• Fertilizers & manure: ₹8,000–12,000
• Labour (annual maintenance): ₹18,000–22,000
• Pesticides & fungicides: ₹5,000–8,000
• Irrigation & misc.: ₹4,000–6,000

Total approximate cost per acre: ₹60,000 – ₹75,000

Yield (per acre)

• Arabica: 350–500 kg
• Robusta: 600–900 kg
• Organic: often lower yields initially, 250–400 kg depending on inputs and age.

Estimated revenue (based on typical market ranges)

• Arabica price range: ₹220–300/kg → revenue ₹80,000–120,000 depending on yield.
• Robusta price range: ₹150–200/kg → revenue ₹90,000–150,000 depending on yield.

With good management, value-addition (cleaning, grading, direct marketing or organic certification), and efficient post-harvest handling, farmers can increase returns by 30–40% or more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Where is coffee mainly grown in India?
   Primarily in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Growing areas are expanding to Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and the North-East.
2. Which variety gives better income – Arabica or Robusta?
   Arabica fetches higher prices for quality but yields less and needs more care. Robusta gives higher yield and suits small holdings.
3. How many coffee plants per acre?
   About 1200–1400 plants per acre, depending on spacing and system.
4. What yield can I expect per acre?
   Arabica 350–500 kg/acre; Robusta 600–900 kg/acre (clean beans).
5. How much does it cost to establish one acre of coffee?
   Roughly ₹60,000–₹75,000 per acre (varies by region and practices).
6. How much shade is ideal for coffee?
   Around 50–60% overhead shade, managed yearly.
7. Which are the main pests I should watch for?
   White stem borer, coffee berry borer, shot hole borer, mealybugs, green scale, and nematodes.
8. How do I prevent leaf rust?
   Keep optimum shade, good sanitation and spray 0.5% Bordeaux mixture at recommended times.
9. Can small farmers grow coffee organically?
   Yes. Many smallholders already practice low-input farming. Certification and consistent quality are important for premium markets.
10. What is the best time to lime and fertilize?
    Apply agricultural lime in November; split fertilizers post-blossom, pre-monsoon and post-monsoon.

Practical Tips for Small Farmers (Per-Acre Focus)

• Start small and learn – try one acre or less before scaling up.
• Maintain records: input costs, harvest dates, yields and sales prices per lot.
• Use drip circles for fertilizer and water efficiency.
• Harvest carefully: pick only ripe cherries to improve cup quality.
• Explore value addition: parchment processing, direct sale to roasters, or organic certification.
• Use local support: Coffee Board, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, state agriculture departments, and research institutes can help with training and technical guidance.

A Motivating Message for Indian Farmers

Coffee farming can be a stable, long-term source of income when done with care and planning. India’s natural conditions—shaded, fertile soils and skilled labour—are an advantage. By following good nursery practices, conserving soil and water, managing shade and nutrition, controlling pests and diseases responsibly, and handling post-harvest processing carefully, a farmer can make coffee a profitable crop per acre.

Farmers, adopt modern practices, use local technical support, and keep learning. With persistence and smart management, coffee cultivation can brighten your farm’s future and bring steady livelihood to your family and community.

For more details and resources, visit: cash crops farming

References & Further Reading (useful portals)

• Coffee Board of India (for technical guidance and schemes)
• Indian Institute of Horticultural Research
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) portals and local agricultural extension
• State Agriculture Departments and Vikaspedia (hi.vikaspedia.in)