Coffee Cultivation in India

• The coffee cultivation in India began with the planting of 7 seeds of coffee during 1600 AD by saint Baba Budan, in the courtyard of his hermitage in Chikmagalur, Karnataka.
• Commercial plantations of coffee started in the 18th century under British entrepreneurship.
• Today, India is among the top 10 coffee-producing countries, with about 3% of the global output.

Agro-climatic conditions needed for Coffee: 

• Indian coffee has a unique position as it is shade-grown and grown at elevations, while other major producing countries grow coffee in flat lands.
• It is a tropical plant which is also grown in semi-tropical climate.
• 16° – 28°C temperature, 150-250cm rainfall and well-drained slopes are essential for its growth.
• Low temperature, frost, dry weather for a long time and harsh sunshine are harmful for its plant.
• Coffee plants grow better in the laterite soils of Karnataka in India.
• Major Varieties Cultivated: Arabica, Robusta and Liberica.
• Arabica has high market value than Robusta coffee due to its mild aromatic flavor.

PYQ:

[2010] Though coffee and tea both are cultivated on hill slopes, there is some difference between them regarding their cultivation. In this context, consider the following statements:

1. Coffee plant requires a hot and humid climate of tropical areas whereas tea can be cultivated in both tropical and subtropical areas.
2. Coffee is propagated by seeds but tea is propagated by stem cuttings only.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2