Overall, coffee trees in the southwestern and center-western part of the state were stressed by the long October and November 1999 drought. The leaf droppage rate is high, varying from 30 to 80 percent of the plant, except for the irrigated coffee plantations, thus limiting production potential. Older trees appear generally more affected and less productive than younger trees which show greener leaves and superior vigor. Fruit set is fair. Above average fruit drop was noted, stimulated by the strong rainfall in late December and early January.
New plantings appear at a slower pace than in previous years.
Such new plantings either replace old coffee trees or result from expansion in area planted to coffee. Input utilization, such as fertilizers and lime, were delayed due to dry weather, which negatively affected fruit formation and vegetative development. Fruit set is good to better than good, and progress in fruit maturation is ahead compared to the other producing regions. Fruit droppage is considered average. New plantings are spread throughout the region, but appear at a slower pace than observed in previous years.