TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The productivity of coffee farmers in Bondowoso Regency, East Java has dropped 40-60 percent per hectare due to unpredictable rain causing wet spells.
"The decrease of coffee productivity in Bondowoso this year is quite significant. Last year coffee production reached from 500 to 600 kilograms per hectare, but now it plummeted from 200 to 300 kilograms per hectare," Sukosari District’s Rejo Tani Co-op head Suyitno said in Bondowosoon Saturday (15/7).
The production of Arabica coffee and other coffee species planted by farmers on the slopes of Mt. Ijen and Mt. Raung, he continued, dropped 40-60 percent per hectare. It is caused by rain that poured on blooming coffee plants and resulted in damage to the flowers.
On the other contrary, he added, Robusta coffee can withstand downpour and the production of this coffee drops during the dry season.
"The significant drop of coffee production is caused by continuous rain from September 2016 to January-February 2017 resulting in fallen flowers of coffee trees and it cuts down the production of coffee fruit," he explained.
ANTARA