Tips to Plant, Harvest, and Grow Coffee Plants in India

Coffee is a most in-demand beverage. But do you know what it takes to grow freshly grown coffee beans? Coffee farming is quite productive and profitable in India. Almost 1,200 and 1,800 coffee plants per hectare can be easily grown. And the coffee yield from a single tree can be 2-3 kgs.

Coffee Arabica and Coffee Robusta are the two popular coffee varieties with large demand pan India. Interested in pursuing coffee cultivation? Here let's review what ideal climate, soil, irrigation and more factors to consider while growing high-yielding coffee beans.

Moreover, we can use a reliable New Holland 3230 for profitable Grow Coffee plants in India.

Technical Factors Required to Grow Coffee

Climatic Conditions for Coffee

The ideal temperature to grow this crop is between 10 to 28 degree Celsius. However, shades would be required in the region where there is the likelihood of high temperatures. Growing coffee beans at higher altitudes is difficult because it can lead to late maturity, and crops can get damaged due to high winds and frosts. 

Furthermore, Arabica coffee beans can be cultivated at altitudes between 900 and 1600 metres. And the annual rainfall ideal for growing coffee is between 2,200 to 2,300mm. Additionally, too much rainfall can harm this crop and invite fungal diseases and leaf rot.

Soil Requirement for Coffee

Coffee crops are compatible with various soils. However, sandy loam soils rich in organic matter are ideal for coffee cultivation. Even virgin soils on mountain slopes and flatlands are ideal for cocoa cultivation.

Furthermore, the soil should be well-drained and should be drought-tolerant. Or at least there should be an internal drainage system for the smooth water passing.

There should be proper soil testing to check for any nutrient deficiency. And the testing should begin right before setting up the coffee garden.

Land Preparation for Coffee

The land should be ploughed enough about 4-5 times. Furtherwards, harrowing done until the soil reaches the tilth stage. While preparing the field, remove any debris, weed or stone from previous crop cultivation.

The planting space for cocoa plants will depend on the soil fertility and the type of topography. For top varieties of coffee, here's how they distanced.

1. Robusta Coffee - 2mX3m
2. Arabica Coffee - 3mX3m

Straight-row planting in an east-west orientation is highly suitable for coffee cultivation. The coffee crop should be planted before the rainy season or during the spring season. And for better coffee seed growth, the spacing between each row should be 15-20cm. However, make sure to add high-quality tilling and harrowing equipment with the best hp tractors to get the best output.

Irrigation & watering for Coffee cultivation

The watering and irrigation of cocoa depend on the following factors:

• Plant age and climate
• Moisture level in the soil
• Type of soil

The best irrigation methods for watering cocoa can be:

• Drip irrigation
• Sprinkler irrigation
• Basin irrigation
• Microjet irrigation

Each plant requires 50-55mm of water before transplanting takes place. However, subsequent irrigation should be provided in about 25mm at an interval of 8-10 days. The soil should be moist but not wet enough.

Excessive watering can cause plants to rot and invite fungal diseases. There should be at least 2 irrigations per week in dry summer climates, and 1 irrigation per week should be given in the case of winter climates.

Harvesting of Coffee

Coffee beans/cherries start coming in 3rd year onwards once the transplanting is done. The best yield, however, is visible from the fifth year onwards. Coffee plantations can provide a yield of up to 50-55 years.

Also, farmers can use any powerful John Deere 5105 as it is a modern machine helping to perform all farming tasks. 

1. Fly Pickings - During October and February, the ripe berries are ready for harvesting. This method is a small-scale method.
2. Main pickings - This method involves picking ripe berries or well-formed coffee beans during December month. It's the main harvesting method of coffee beans that is suitable for bulk yield.
3. Stripping - This method involves picking leftover berries on the plant, whether ripe or not.
4. Cleanings - In this method, all the fruits collected and dropped during the harvesting stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which are the leading states for cocoa cultivation in India?

Ans. Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh are leading states for cocoa cultivation in India.

2. Which state is the highest producer of cocoa in India?

Ans. Andhra Pradesh is India's leading cocoa producer, with 11 thousand metric tons in the fiscal year 2022.

3. Which climate is ideal for cocoa plantations?

Ans.  Cocoa plants are suitable to grow in uniform temperatures. Additionally, there should be abundant rain, nitrogen-rich soil, and shelterbelts to protect from winds.

4. Which city is known as Chocolate city?

Ans. Bhatinda is known as the chocolate city in India.