Koraput takes lessons from Araku set to rebrand its coffee

  • | Friday | 15th February, 2019

It may be worth mentioning that the coffee plantation was first introduced in Koraput by the erstwhile Maharaja of Jeypore in 1930.“We see in bordering Araku of Andhra Pradesh how farmers are reaping benefits from coffee plantation. At present, only 1,467 hectare of land is under coffee plantation in the district.As the climatic condition of the district is conducive for coffee plantation, the establishment of the curing unit will motivate more farmers to undertake coffee cultivation. Also, coffee from other districts will be procured, he added.Officials said, as per a departmental survey, it has been found that at least 1,45,170 hectare of land in the district is suitable for coffee plantation. The life span of a coffee plant is around 60 years and it gives fruit with minimum maintenance, Kalo said. If the government supports us, then we can also benefit here,” said Kesab Majhi, a tribal farmer of Nandapur block.

Koraput: With an aim to promote the coffee of Koraput in the national and international market and ensure that the coffee growers get a fair price for their produce, the district administration has decided to establish a coffee curing unit at the district headquarters town and coffee brewing units in prominent cities of the state.“A budget of Rs 50 lakh has been finalised for the project; tender will soon be floated for the procurement of the mini-coffee curing unit,” said collector (Koraput) K Sudarshan Chakravarthy.According to the project, officials said, primary processed coffee would be procured from tribal and non-tribal growers of the district and other parts of the state for curing in the mini-curing unit. Depending on the demand, the cured coffee would be roasted, powdered and brewed in the specially designed coffee outlets in important towns of the state by the brand name of Koraput Coffee, the collector added.“Sincere effort will be made to give national and international recognition to Koraput Coffee through the brewing units,” he added.Officials are also hopeful that the establishment of the curing unit would enhance the lot of both tribal and non-tribal farmers as they will get fair prices for their produce.At present, coffee-growers are forced to sell the uncured produce at low prices to middlemen, who transport it to states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Once the curing unit is established here, the farmers will be paid Rs 150 per kilogram of coffee, which is much more that what they are getting at present, said Bhabani Shankar Kalo, deputy director coffee development, Koraput.In the first year, it has been decided that the curing unit will procure at least 100 metric tonnes of coffee from the farmers. In subsequent years, this will increase. Also, coffee from other districts will be procured, he added.Officials said, as per a departmental survey, it has been found that at least 1,45,170 hectare of land in the district is suitable for coffee plantation. At present, only 1,467 hectare of land is under coffee plantation in the district.As the climatic condition of the district is conducive for coffee plantation, the establishment of the curing unit will motivate more farmers to undertake coffee cultivation. The life span of a coffee plant is around 60 years and it gives fruit with minimum maintenance, Kalo said. It may be worth mentioning that the coffee plantation was first introduced in Koraput by the erstwhile Maharaja of Jeypore in 1930.“We see in bordering Araku of Andhra Pradesh how farmers are reaping benefits from coffee plantation. If the government supports us, then we can also benefit here,” said Kesab Majhi, a tribal farmer of Nandapur block.

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