Bogota, July 21 - Colombia is sticking by its 2009 coffee production target of 11 million to 11.5 million 60 kg sacks despite heavy rains that have weighed on output, the National Federation of Coffee Growers said on Tuesday.
"We are going to stop losing production. We are maintaining our targets," Federation chief Gabriel Silva told reporters.
Production fell 31 percent in the first half of the year to 4.24 million 60 kg sacks compared with the same 2008 period.
"Without a doubt, production in the first half was low due to heavy rains in the second half of last year," he said.
"We have increased fertilization in all coffee fields by 40 percent this year and increased other productivity measures," Silva added.
Colombian June coffee production and exports fell 35 percent and 34 percent, respectively, compared to the same month last year.