Colombia Brought 12 Latin American Robusta Clones, Being Reproduced in Nurseries: Study
Colombia Brought 12 Latin American Robusta Clones, Being Reproduced in Nurseries: Study
Bogota (Coffee Network)- A total of 12 Latin American clones of Robusta seeds have been planted out in replicated experiments with varying plots in Colombia, says an academic study developed by MDPI, a pioneer in scholarly, based in Basel, Switzerland.
The total Robusta clones being reproduced in nurseries include four clones from Ecuador, four from Mexico and four from Nicaragua, along with three additional French clones (FRT 65, FRT 97 and FRT 101) were introduces as populations and planted out in replicated experiments with varying plot sizes (3 × 2 m; 3 × 1 m; 3 × 1.5 m and 3 × 2.5 m), MDPI said.
In total, 3212 cutting based plants are currently (as of 2021) found in these nurseries. The plants have tested negative for Xylella fastidiosa, with no other diseases or pests of concern found. Screening for pathogens from other Latin American regions such as Gibberella xylarioides, Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae and Sclerotium coffeicola were done weekly, MDPI added.
Colombia can take advantage of flat lands, favorable weather and rainfall patterns and soil conditions from lowland Caribbean to the acid and hilly soils of Orinoquia and Piedemonte, to high-rainfall Amazonian forests and lowland Pacific coastlines.
“It is notable that regions in Colombia where the Robusta coffee would be tested and bred are different in agro-ecology and in farming systems from the Brazilian regions which have been used for testing,” MDPI added.
The Colombia’s coffee exporters association Asoexport requested two weeks ago to begin commercial production of Robusta. Switzerland giant Nestle has shown interest in acquiring all the Robusta set to be produced in Colombia, Gustavo Gomez, director of Asoexport said.
The agricultural research institute Agrosavia is currently carrying out tests to produce Robusta beans in the Pacific town of Tumaco, humid areas in the Caribbean and the Llanos Foothills.
The cup of Robusta beans produced in Tumaco is yielding a much higher quality of coffee than those of Brazil or Vietnam, Gomez, added.
Colombia could plant up 80,000 hectares of Robusta beans, which could yield 3.2 million bags of 60-kg in three-four years. By doing so, Colombia could recover production of about 14 million bags, a level that lost four years ago. The production of 3.2 million bags could help replace the 2 million bags of imported coffee that it’s used for local consumption needs.
An hectare of Robusta could yield as much as 40 bags of 60-kg of coffee, twice as much as the one produced by Arabica, Gomez noted.
Colombian President Petro ordered to form an interinstitutional table that invited the global president of Nestle to promote the production of Robusta beans.
Agrosavia says it is understanding the adaptation and performance. Agrosavia says is learning the agronomy of the robusta
“A breeding program for Robusta is needed for Colombia, given its unique situation as a mountainous country near the equator. Germplasm is available from original Robusta stocks and improved Conilon varieties,” MDPI concluded.
The reduction in Arabica prices and an increase of global Robusta prices highlights the importance of Agrosavia-- the agricultural research institute--, to move forward with the commercial production of Robusta beans.
“We request more support from the Agriculture and Finance ministries to allow Agrosavia move on with production of Robusta in semi commercial plots of land,” Gomez, told attendees of the 87th Asoexport summit held in Cartagena.
Colombia does not produce Robusta, but the states of Meta, Casanare, Vichada, Nariño and Arauca have a high potential to produce Robusta coffee, which allows mechanized harvesting as they are located on flat lands. Those states produce marginally Arabica beans on the slopes of its mountains.
Unlike many Latin American nations, which are producing Robusta beans, Colombia is no longer seeing Robusta as a taboo-bean. Nicaragua, Ecuador, Mexico and Guatemala among others had bet on Robusta crops because it has higher yields, lower input costs and is more resistant to roya.
By Diana Delgado
