Can the Komasti Arabica Variety Lift Indonesia's Coffee Production?
Indonesia's coffee exports are forecast to drop 32 percent year on year in 2023/24, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Heavy rain disrupted cherry development, and high temperatures and drought are now spreading pests and diseases that stunt tree growth and tighten supply. The Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute released the Komasti arabica variety, bred for strong resistance to coffee leaf rust and high yields, as one response.
Komasti was officially released in 2013, but limited promotion, testing, and seed availability kept farmer awareness and acceptance low. In 2022, ICCRI and World Coffee Research set up a demonstration plot in West Java to show growers how the variety performs in the field. Wider adoption could steady coffee production, though the outcome depends on how quickly planting material and results reach smallholders.
In recent years, Indonesia's coffee industry has faced severe challenges under the dual pressures of climate change and farm pests and diseases. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service predicts that Indonesia's coffee exports will decline by 32% year-on-year in 2023/24. Previously, excessive rainfall disrupted coffee cherry development, and production subsequently shrank sharply; now, high temperatures and drought are accelerating the spread of pests and diseases, restricting tree growth and further leading to coffee supply shortages. Faced with this situation, the Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute (ICCRI) continues to seek solutions through agricultural research, including the release of the disease-resistant and high-yielding Komasti Arabica variety. In 2022, ICCRI cooperated with the World Coffee Research to establish a demonstration plot in West Java Province to show local farmers the performance of this variety. Front Street Coffee is paying attention to this important development in Indonesia's coffee industry, and this article will review the research and development background, promotion status, and future potential of the Komasti variety.
In recent years, coffee production in Indonesia has faced challenges due to climate change and an increase in farm pests and diseases. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service predicts that Indonesia's coffee exports in 2023/24 will fall by 32% compared with the previous year. Previously, excessive rainfall disrupted coffee cherry development, and coffee production dropped sharply. Now, high temperatures and drought have accelerated the spread of pests and diseases, hindered tree growth, and led to coffee supply shortages.
The Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute (ICCRI) has been working to address these challenges through agricultural research, including developing and releasing the Komasti variety, a hybrid Arabica coffee variety with strong resistance to diseases such as coffee leaf rust and high yields.
The variety was officially released in 2013, but due to limited promotion, testing, and availability, farmers' awareness and acceptance of this variety have not been high.
Komasti coffee variety
In 2022, ICCRI cooperated with World Coffee Research (WCR) to establish a demonstration plot project in West Java Province, Indonesia. They hope that through demonstration plots they can show local farmers the high performance of the Komasti variety and strengthen cultivation of this variety in coffee-producing areas.
Two WCR industry partners, Frinsa Agrolestari and PT Sucafina Indonesia, provided support for the establishment of the demonstration area. These partners will be responsible for local management of the demonstration plots in 2023 and will oversee their local progress.
The first harvest from the demonstration plots is expected between May and July 2025. Nuzul Qudri, WCR Asia regional project manager, said, "Although these trees have not yet experienced their first harvest, coffee farmers in areas surrounding the demonstration plots have already shown interest in Komasti. They have observed that, compared with the existing varieties currently grown locally, Komasti is more vigorous in the early growth stage."
Komasti coffee variety
According to ICCRI, the Komasti variety has the advantages of fast fruiting, dense fruit, and good taste. With careful care, this variety has a potential yield of ±2.1 tonnes per hectare, with 2,000 plants. At present, Komasti coffee has begun to spread in several regions of Indonesia, including North Sumatra Province and South Sulawesi Province, among others.
Coffee plantation in South Sulawesi Province
ICCRI believes that the demonstration plots will show farmers that Komasti can produce higher yields than the varieties currently dominant in Indonesia, thereby encouraging farmers to plant it and helping them recognize that growing excellent coffee varieties is crucial for adapting to the ongoing effects of climate change.
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