Planting & Monsoon

July 09, 2007

There was the usual uproar that this year the Monsoon is weak and the rains will be poor leading to a drought condition going into summer 2008.

Now people want the rains to stop.In my case we normally get about 1inch of rain a day during late June going into mid-July.This year we are getting on an average 2.2 inches of rain going upto 4-5 inches on a few windy & very wet days.

Coffee has to be planted now for the roots to establish.The work is slow this year because the rains have been severe and this has led to a lot of tree fall & wind damage.Overall the scenario will improve as the rains seem to be easing of as I write to you.

My plantation is located in the heart of coffee growing area of India called Chikamgalur.It is in a small hamlet called Magundi besides the famous River Bhadra.I grow only Robusta Coffee.This year my coffee got the Ist prize in 2 catogeries in The Flavour Of India Cupping Competition organised by the Coffee Board Of India.It won in The Best Robusta Kaapi Royale & The Best Estate Branded Coffee.   

Nishant R Gurjer,Managing Partner,Sethuraman Estate,Magundi-577160,Chikmagalur District,India

 Member Grower,Karnataka Plantation Coffee Inc. Hillsboro,Oregon. www.indiancoffees.com