Archive · 6 Jan 2026
India Releases Two New Arabica Varieties
India has introduced two new types of Arabica coffee plants.
These plants are special because they can handle problems like bugs and diseases better.
The government wants to grow more coffee and sell it to more places.
They also want to make sure the coffee is really good quality.
Right now, India grows a lot of coffee, and they want to grow even more by the year 2047.
The new plants were shown off by important government leaders.
They think this will help farmers and make India's coffee even more popular around the world.
Two new Arabica coffee varieties, Selection 14 (S.4595) and Selection 15 (S.5086), were released by the Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI).
Selection 14 is tall and tolerant to coffee white stem borer, while Selection 15 is high-yielding, rust-tolerant, and semi-dwarf.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi emphasized the need for better marketing, quality production, and skill improvement in the coffee sector.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted India's potential to export $2 billion worth of coffee in 2025 and the benefits of new trade agreements.
The new varieties aim to address challenges like climate change, pests, and diseases that have impacted Arabica yields.
- Who
- Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Coffee Board Chairman M J Dinesh
- What
- Release of two new Arabica coffee varieties
- When
- December 20, 2025
- Where
- Balehonnur, Chikmagalur district, Karnataka
- Why
- To improve coffee production and exports, address challenges like climate change and pests
- New Varieties
- Selection 14 (S.4595) and Selection 15 (S.5086)
- Tolerance
- Coffee white stem borer and rust resistant
- Current Production
- 3.6 lakh tonnes (2024-25)
- Target Production
- 7 lakh tonnes by 2047
- Major Producing States
- Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
- New Cultivation Areas
- Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, North East
- Exports
- $2 billion expected in 2025
- Coffee Board Chairman
- M J Dinesh
