Robusta coffee bean prices in India have soared to an all-time high of Rs 10,080 per 50 kg bag, bringing relief to coffee growers who mainly cultivate it due to lower input costs compared to Arabica. These growers have faced challenges such as erratic rainfall, crop damage by wild animals, and rising input and labor costs over the past decade.
Vietnam and Indonesia’s shift to more profitable crops and increasing demand for coffee in the cosmetics industry are some of the reasons behind the surge in coffee prices. In India, coffee production is mainly concentrated in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. However, coffee plantations in Karnataka have faced challenges due to diminishing returns and labor shortages.
