Colombia coffee production drops by one third

BOGOTA (AFP) — Coffee production in Colombia, the world's number two producer of the beans, plunged 33 percent in the first four months of 2009, with exports sinking by 21 percent, officials said.

The National Coffeegrowers Federation, or Federacafe, said January-April production reached just 2.88 million 60-kilogram (132-pound) bags, compared with 4.25 million bags in the same period in 2008.

"The winter, low fertilization and the renovation of coffee plantations had a strong impact on production in the first months of the year," said Federacafe, which represents the Andean nation's half million coffeegrowers.

Colombia comes second only to Brazil in coffee production. Much of the country's northwest is cloaked in the crop, which produces a subtle brew sought after by many buyers.

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