BENGALURU: Coffee estate owners in Karnataka are worried. Though the State Government passed a resolution opposing the 7th draft notification for implementation of the Kasturirangan report, it has now announced that it will undertake a detailed survey of forest land, buffer zones and eco-sensitive areas in and around forest patches. This comes as a concern as around 30 per cent of coffee estates sit on encroached forest and revenue department land parcels.
Sources in the Coffee Board said coffee estates in Karnataka abut forest land. “In the past, land parcels used for coffee cultivation were part of forest and revenue lands, but were not a concern. Now with rising man-animal conflict, the declaration of ESA and protected forest patches, the area under coffee plantation is becoming a concern,” a source said.
“Most of the areas of concern are in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga and Hassan districts. The encroachments have not yet been legalised. If the land parcels are taken away, the coffee plantation area in the state will be reduced, impacting coffee production too. Further, if the Kasturirangan report notification on ESA is implemented, 30-35 per cent of coffee growing region will be lost as it falls under protected areas,” the source said.
Concern has intensified as the Coffee Board is undertaking a detailed land survey of coffee growing regions in India, including Karnataka. Through the survey the Board is also assessing the impact of drought and unprecedented rainfall in parts of the state which would impact coffee production during the next financial year.
According to Coffee Board officials, during FY 2025-26, 3.62 lakh tonnes of coffee was produced. Looking at the blossoming period, the Board had estimated production at 3.80-4 lakh tonnes.
A senior Board member, seeking anonymity, said: “There is limited scope for expansion of coffee-growing region in Karnataka, which is around 2.46 lakh hectares. The Board is looking at utilising areas where arecanut is grown in Shivamogga and Sagar for growing coffee, apart from regions in northeast India and Andhra Pradesh. But Karnataka’s suitable climate for shade grown coffee will be destroyed if land parcels are recovered or declared as protected areas.”
The Board official said Karnataka produces 70 per cent of India’s coffee, and the Union government has set a target of increasing coffee production in Karnataka to 7 lakh tonnes by 2047. But with land becoming a constraint, rising man-animal conflict and buffer zone rules, this target seems out of reach, the official said.
