Conditions for Growth:
- Coffee is a tropical crop. So, it requires hot & humid climate.
- It requires high temperature ranging from 15°C to 30°C.
- Rainfall varying from 150 to 200 cms is necessary & it should be well distributed through out the year.
- Coffee plants require deep fertile soil, humus & nitrogenous contained soils are suitable, so cleared up forest land is most suitable for coffee cultivation.
- Coffee plants require shade, because sunrays & strong winds are harmful to coffee plants.
- Hill slopes are suitable for cultivation of coffee plants to avoid stagnant of water.
- Dry weather is necessary’ at the time of ripening of harries.
- Use of manures and fertilizers are required for coffee cultivation.
- Use of pesticides and insecticides are very essential, because coffee plant is susceptible to pests & ****.
- It requires abundant supply of cheap & skilled labour for various operations.
Reasons for the concentration of coffee in South India: The Coffee plant was first introduced in lndia by a ** Fakir, Bababudan Sahib who brought some seeds from Mecca during 17th Century and planted the seedlings in Chandragiri Hills now. It is called Bababudan Hills in Chikmangalur district of Karnataka. Then it was spread to the neigh bouring districts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala & other parts if the country.
