Italy’s biggest coffee roaster Lavazza, has announced the launch of Il Mattino Vivace its first pure filter coffee blend to be sourced and processed in India for the domestic market.
Coffee is being sourced from Chikmagalur and Coorg in Karnataka and processed in Lavazza’a manufacturing facility at Sri City in Andhra Pradesh.
The facility at Sri City in Tada began its commercial operations a few weeks ago, Fresh and Honest Cafe Ltd Managing Director Silvio Zaccareo said.
Fresh and Honest Cafe Ltd is a 100 percent subsidiary of Lavazza.
Zaccareo declined to reveal the size of investment made at the factory or the number of employees working in it.
II Mattino Vivace meaning ‘lively morning’ is made from Arabica and Robusta beans roasted for the “at home” segment.
“Lavazza is known the world over for its expertise in art of blending for over four generations. II Mattino Vivace is a result of combining that expertise and our understanding of the unique consumer preferences in Indian market”, he said.
To a query, he said the coffee powder would be available in retail outlets across the country. “We are planning to complete first stage distribution by end of this month”.
Zaccareo said the company inaugurated Coffee Training Centre last year which was the first largest centre outside Italy.
The centre trains professionals, carries out research and explores new forms of taste. “We have trained more than 1,000 people,” he said.
source: http://www.retailnews.asia / RetailNews.asia / Home / by Retail Asia / July 14th, 2023
Vidwath Kaverappa entered the Karnataka pace bowling landscape in a rather tough period after the departure of stalwarts such as R Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun and S Arvind.
It might have been tough for a 24-year-old to learn the tricks of the trade almost on his own.
But now, Vidwath has established himself as his the state team’s spearhead and a potential candidate to fill an India spot. In the previous Ranji Trophy season (2022-23) Vidwath bagged 30 wickets, and he has already picked up 14 wickets from three innings in the on-going Duleep Trophy.
The numbers give the picture of a young man who is a quick learner and a keen observer. Vidwath emphasised those aspects as his strong points.
The Karnataka right-arm pacer said he has been absorbing lessons from watching the footage of South African legend Dale Steyn and veteran India bowler Mohammed Shami.
“Since I don’t have the express pace, like Prasidh (Krishna) or Vysakh (Vijayakumar), I need to seek other ways to get purchase from the wicket. So, that’s something I’ve watched great bowlers like Dale Steyn or Mohammed Shami do,” he said.
Vidwath said he has been trying to copy the seam position of those two fine bowlers.
“I have seen a lot of moments of their bowling. So, I can see how good the seam presentation is and what the ball does, even in white ball. So, why not do it in the red ball with a prominent seam, and I know I’ll get a lot more help with it,” he said.
Vidwath has shown that trait all along, even from his junior days for Lions Institutions in Gonikoppal, Coorg, and Presidency College in Bengaluru.
Samuel Jayaraj, a KSCA coach who imparted him the first lessons, remembered watching him in Coorg eight years ago during a talent hunt drive by the state association.
Back then he was pleasantly surprised to see the spirited reaction from youngsters to the camp as Coorg is the stronghold of hockey.
“Vidwath had come as an attentive kid. He never gets tired of bowling at nets and wanted to learn as much as he could. He is a natural bowler and athlete.
“Coming from Coorg, he had that natural aptitude for sports. We just have to give him direction once I saw him during that trial. We were convinced that Vidwath would be an asset to the Karnataka team, and if everything goes well, then even at a higher level,” said Jayaraj.
It was not an empty praise as evidenced by future turn of events. In 2022, Vidwath finished as the second highest wicket-taker in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, taking 18 wickets from 8 matches at an impressive economy of 6.36.
The recognition of that effort came when Punjab Kings picked him up for the IPL 2023 from the mini-auction for his base price of Rs 20 lakh.
Though he did not play a game in this edition, Kings bowling coach Charl Langeveldt is convinced of his ward’s potential
“The team combination is such that it is tough for every player to get a chance to be in the 11. In a tournament like IPL, matches come very fast and you really don’t have time to tinker with 11.
“But this kid is talented and bowls at nets with a wonderful seam (position). He, I am sure, will feature in Punjab’s scheme prominently very soon,” Langeveldt told PTI.
Vidwath knew the importance of waiting for his turn patiently after taking those bold initial steps.
“I feel like I’m learning from every game and that is important at this age for me. I knew even if I didn’t get a chance into the big team this transitional period, my time will come.”
“I’ve watched football a lot, so I know how in a great team new players come when old players leave, you need to be patient with them. So, I had to take my time and perform to the best of my abilities,” said Vidwath.
Vidwath indeed did that. He wrecked a power-packed West Zone batting unit with a seven-wicket haul. His victim list included players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Suryakumar Yadav and Prithvi Shaw.
However, Vidwath, typical of him, did not try to wrap the performance in a magic cloak.
“I’ve always been the kind of guy who likes responsibilities, who likes to take up the heavy load and make the big moments for the team,” he said.
Perhaps, he knows bigger moments are on his way.
source: http://www.rediff.com / rediff.com / Home> Cricket / by PTI / July 14th, 2023
Evergreen County allows visitors to stay in the traditional cottages of Coorg while being close to unadulterated nature
New Delhi :
While Indians are embracing digitization and working toward a better future, they are exhausting themselves in the corporate culture. The two COVID waves showed how employees working from the comfort of their homes also tend to overwork themselves, hampering their mental health along the way. This makes it important for people to find opportunities to relax and unwind.
With Evergreen County, Bajan Bopanna provides his guests with such an opportunity to find moments of calm amidst a life full of chaos. Evergreen County is an initiative that allows visitors to spend a few days in nature’s lap while embracing the traditional way of living in the best cottages of Coorg. It lets travelers live in traditional cottages and live the planters’ lives for a few days.
The award-winning conceptual stay facility in Coorg provides its clients with a blend of nature and adventure, taking them away from a life of boredom and burnout. Evergreen County steers away from being a conventional resort or a homestay. It focuses on offering a conceptual stay to the visitors by letting them live in cottages located inside the coffee and pepper plantations near Nangala Hills. Bajan and his team intend to take their guests on a unique retreat that goes beyond the mainstream definition of “luxury.”
Bajan conceptualized Evergreen County after experiencing the exhaustion of corporate life first-hand. Working as a corporate employee for several years had him wound up in a monotonous routine that drained his life of excitement and vigor. This made him mindful of the lives of thousands of employees living the same way, motivating him to come up with the concept of Evergreen County. With this conceptual stay, Bajan aims to help his guests experience the bliss, calm, and comfort that comes with becoming one with nature.
At Evergreen County, visitors can opt for cottages for group or family stays, depending on their preferences. The management facilitates accommodation in fully sanitized wooden cottages surrounded by natural aesthetics. All guests are served organic and authentic food during their stay, adding to the exotic experience of living in the woods.
Apart from facilitating wooden cottage stays, Evergreen County indulges its visitors in water activities (kayaking, coracle rides, pond swimming, etc.), adventure activities (ziplining, sky cycling, rope adventures, etc.), gun firing, archery, trekking, rafting, night plantation walks with lanterns, and much more.
Bajan believes that a retreat like Evergreen County is necessary for modern working professional to ensure their mental well-being. He says, “A concept like this is built for people to take a break from their routine life; to help them escape the concrete jungle to the real jungle, play in the natural pond, stay in bamboo wooden cottages amidst the coffee plantations, and try the Coorg way of living with great food, adventure, water activities, and much. This will definitely recharge a person completely and make a lot of difference!”
To learn more about Evergreen County and book a stay, visit its official website here: https://evergreencounty.com
(Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
source: http://www.aninews.in / ANI / Home> National / by ANI / July 14th, 2023
Brahma Kumari (BK) Meenakshiji, a senior Rajyogini of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, who was popularly called as Meenakshi Akka, passed away on July 11 morning at a private hospital in Mangaluru.
A native of Chikkamandur in Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu district, Meenakshiji was the eldest daughter of Kallichanda K. Machaiah and Parvathi couple and is survived by four brothers
The body was kept at the Gonikoppal Branch of Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya yesterday morning for the public to pay their last respects and the mortal remains were shifted to Chikkamandur, where the last rites were performed.
Brahma Kumaris Mysuru Zone Chief Convenor BK Lakshmiji, Kodagu Zone Chief Convenor BK Gayathriji and others have condoled the death of BK Meenakshiji.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / July 13th, 2023
The list of homestays and resorts in Kodagu, which are run legally getting all the clearances from government agencies, should be made available on tourism-related websites for the benefit of tourists.
This message was conveyed at a meeting of the associations of hotels, restaurants, resorts, and homestays in Madikeri. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja who suggested uploading information on registered homestays and resorts operated in the district.
Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan said the police have kept a close vigil for controlling narcotics and advised resorts not to engage in illegal activities. The police will act tough if they comes across such activities being encouraged on their properties, he cautioned. Problems can be brought to the notice of the police immediately by calling 112, he advised.
Kodagu Homestays’ Association general secretary Monti Ganesh suggested simplifying the registration process for homestays. Kodagu has about 200 registered homestays. If the process is simplified, more homestays will voluntarily register, he felt. He also suggested establishing tourist information centres and more public toilets besides giving importance to hygiene in tourist spots.
Hotel Owners’ Association president Nagendra Prasad said the district administration must consider giving priority to easing parking issues, which aggravate during weekends when tourist footfall goes up. He suggested establishing more facilities in tourist spots in view of the rise in tourism revenue.
Kodagu Chamber of Commerce and Industry general secretary Ambekallu Naveen said tourists engage in cooking while on visit to Kodagu. There has to be designated places for cooking for tourists, he said. Honey and spices are being faked in the market and this has to be checked for safeguarding the identity of these products.
Somwarpet taluk homestay association president C.K. Rohit said there are no display boards with useful information for tourists on the way to Kote Betta and steps must be taken to install information boards on the route for the benefit of tourists. He sought a ropeway at Mallalli waterfalls and a hanging bridge to Pushpagiri hills.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 11th, 2023
The Cauvery near Betri in Kodagu district brimming with water due to heavy rains on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
All schools and anganwadis in Kodagu will remain closed on Friday as a precautionary measure in view of the incessant rains across the district.
A communique was issued by Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu Venkat Raja. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said monsoon was vigorous and active over south interior Karnataka with very heavy rainfall of 120 mm reported in Bhagamandala during the 24-hour period ending 8.30 a.m. on Thursday.
The IMD has forecast heavy rains at isolated places over Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, and Kodagu district on July 7 and 8.
Though the monsoon progression into Kodagu has been slow, the last 72 hours has shown some traction with moderate to heavy rains in the Cauvery catchment areas.
The cumulative rainfall since the advent of South West Monsoon since June 1 till date is below normal in Kodagu (-79%), Mysuru (-40%), Mandya (-23%), Hassan (-63%), and Chamarajanagar (-32%).
But the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday saw Kodagu registering 58.12 mm of rainfall and this has been the trend since the past few days shoring up hopes of monsoon gaining vigour.
Apart from Bhagamandala (120 mm), heavy rains were also recorded at Sampaje (98.5 mm), Shantalli (100 mm), Madikeri Kasaba (54.20 mm), Napoklu (76.40 mm), Virajpet (68.4 mm), Hudikeri (53.3 mm), Srimangala (59.4 mm), Ponnampet (50 mm), and Ammathi (50 mm). Rains have also lashed other places like Suntikoppa, Kushalnagar, and Kodlipet.
The inflow into the Harangi reservoir was at the rate of 1,557 cusecs and the inflow is expected to increase owing to the current spell of rains in the next few days.
However, the cumulative rainfall since the advent of south west monsoon from June 1 till date is below normal in Kodagu (-79%), Mysuru (-40%), Mandya (-23%), Hassan (-63%), and Chamarajanagar (-32%).
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 06th, 2023
Indian Badminton Doubles Players, Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto have achieved their career-best rankings in BWF Rankings. In the recent update by the BWF, the duo successfully climbed up one place to reach 60th rank. This is the highest they have achieved in their entire career.
The pair recently won the Nantes International Challenge title by defeating the prolific duo of Hung En-Tzu and Lin Yu-Pei of Chinese Taipei. The event took place at the Salle Metropolitana de la Trocardaiare, Paris. Ashwini is a Commonwealth gold medallist and a world-class player with many titles under her belt.
Meanwhile, Tanisha has astoundingly proven herself. She paved her way through the domestic circuit and has shown his talent alongside experienced players. Both of them have performed exceptionally well in the recent past and are willing to stick with the winning ways.
Ashwini attained the highest-ever ranking of 10 in women’s double alongside Jwala Gutta in 2015. While Tanisha had the highest rank of 115 with Shruti Mishra. This duo has come a long way to achieve this feat in the BWF Rankings update. They display the depth in the Indian Badminton pool and the nurturing of this depth.
Other Indian Players to Gain in Recent BWF Rankings
Apart from these two, Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker moved up to 64th rank. Swetaparna Panda and Rutaparna Panda advanced to 66, while the Palak-Unnati pair moved to the 90th position. All of these Ranks were achieved in the Women’s Doubles category.
In the Men’s Single category, Kiran George moved up three places to achieve the 53rd position. While in the Men’s Doubles category, P.S.Ravikrishna and S.Sankar climbed up four places to grab the 70th ranking. The pair of Achutaditya-Venkata Harsha also made meager progress by moving to 80th place in the rankings.
These are some major updates from the BWF Rankings update in July 2023 and the players would be motivated to further progress in the same manner.
source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / SportsKeeda / Home> Badminton / by SportzConnect / edited by Yash Singh / July 05th, 2023
Bandadka village in Coorg, known as the Scotland of India, faces challenges during the rainy season. Lack of road connectivity, proper bridge, electricity, and necessities affect villagers. Despite requests, the authorities have not provided adequate facilities, putting lives at risk.
Coorg is known as the Scotland of India. It shines with lush green vegetation, numerous waterfalls and rich culture. However, during the rainy season – the lack of basic necessities in the villages comes to the fore. One such unfortunate village is the Bandadka village of Sampaje taluk.
The village has no road connectivity to the city. Every rainfall disrupts their peace. Agony takes over as the flow of the river is alarming. The local panchayat has not yet been able to provide the village with a proper bridge.
‘Jeevanadi’ going dry: Coorg suffers in tourism
During rainfall, it is risky to cross the Payashwini river, which flows along NH275. If one wants to reach the village, crossing the river while holding on to a rope is mandatory.
The villager’s lack of electricity, road connectivity, and even the link bridge connecting them to the taluk is breathing its last. Surprisingly, even after 75 years of Independence, there are such villages in the state, especially in the tourist hotspot of Coorg, which lack the necessities.
The link bridge connecting the village and outskirts is ready to set sail if the people set their foot on it. There are five families in the village. Three of them comprise of old-aged people who are leading their lives in danger. The river flow during summer is very low, so the villagers’ daily life is not disrupted. Only during the rainy season do they undergo an adventurous river crossing every day. The Payashwini river, called the Chandragiri river, flows across Sullia, Jalsoor, Chengala and Kasargod.
Karnataka: Expect rainfall within 24 hours; ‘Orange’ alert for the coasts
The Panchayat used to construct a small bridge for the villagers once in 3-4 years. This year, the one constructed last time is on the verge of collapsing into the river.
For medication, villagers must walk 2.5 km through the wild forest, which elephants and leopards inhabit. They should walk through the small dam and reach NH 275 for transport. The villagers complain that even after requesting the ministers, Panchayat and District administration to provide them with the facilities, no one seems to care.
source: http://www.newsable.asianetnews.com / Asianet News Able / Home> English News> India News / by Vijaykumar Patil / July 04t, 2023
A mock drill on flood rescue operations was conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescue team and personnel from Government Departments at Hebbatageri village in Kodagu yesterday. Ironically, the drill was held at a time when Kodagu is facing an acute shortage of rainfall which is much below normal.
NDRF personnel, as specialised disaster responders,demonstrated flood response, rescue, evacuation and first aid to educate the local population. The drill was led by Deputy Commissioner Venkata Raja who assumed charge just days ago.
The drill, titled ‘Disaster Demonstration,’ was carried out with the cooperation of various Departments such as District Administration, NDRF, Police, Fire Brigade and Home Guards. The drill was aimed to create awareness among the public about how to undertake rescue operations during natural disasters like floods and landslides.
All the Departments actively participated in the exercise and understood their responsibilities during such challenging times. The training was aimed to equip people with effective strategies to cope with emergencies and disasters and to emphasise the role of NDRF in these situations.
Demonstration on emergency rescue methods
The mock drill included demonstrations of rescues including the collapse of land, tree falls, drowning rescue, boat rescue techniques and rescue from collapsed houses. Demonstration on emergency rescue methods and first-aid for drowning cases were also conducted.
In the event of a natural disaster, various measures were demonstrated in such situations. These included cutting off electricity supply, sealing off the incident site, providing initial medical treatment and transporting severely injured individuals to the hospital. Mock drills of such nature were conducted more than nine times in Kodagu till now.
NDRF Inspector Shantilal Jatiya led the team of 23 members, Assistant Sub-Inspector Chennanayaka from the Police Department with 15 Police officers, a team of 8 members led by Nagaraju from the Fire and Emergency Services Department and a team of 8 members led by Akshay from the Home Guards division participated, taking the total personnel to 54.
The DC stated that the mock exercise aimed to assess the disaster preparedness of different departments and agencies responsible for disaster management. Considering the vulnerability of villages along the river banks to floods, raising awareness among the public and evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of stakeholders was crucial for building disaster resilience.
He revealed that the joint practice sessions were aimed to enhance coordination, address shortcomings and achieve better results during rescue operations. The main objective of the exercise was to raise awareness among citizens about preventive measures and equip them with the necessary skills to deal with any natural or disastrous situation effectively.
Coordinated actions and synergy
Venkata Raja explained that through coordinated actions and synergy among various emergency support functions at the district and village levels, an effective flood response could be ensured during a real disaster situation. Drawing from past experiences, arrangements were being made in advance, including resources, manpower, equipment, communication, and systems, to save lives, he said.
The District Administration took the initiative to provide information through demonstration to instil public confidence in understanding how rescue operations are conducted and safety measures are taken during floods and landslides. Venkata Raja also mentioned the importance of raising public awareness about the procedures and protocols followed during such situations to ensure safety and rescue operations.
‘Though we have received below-average rainfall, there is a possibility of average to above-average rainfall in July and August,” he added. District Disaster Management Officer R.M. Ananya Vasudeva and other officers were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / July 02nd, 2023
While 70% of saplings are that of native trees, 30% are crops that have some economic value.
Picture for representational purpose only | (Pic: Express)
The College of Forestry at Ponnampet, in collaboration with Sucden India, is involved in an afforestation drive across Kodagu. The initiative called the Sustain Landscape Project involves the distribution of native varieties of tree saplings among farmers.
Plans are afoot to plant them across sacred groves in the district.
Kari Mara (Diospyros ebenum), ‘Karadimara (Chukrasia tabularis), Dhoopa mara (Vateria indica), Kari Dhoopa (Canarium strictum) to name a few, are native trees that once dotted the Kodagu landscape.
Older generations are familiar with the tree species but these are alien to the present generation. The increased demand for wood and medicines along with galloping urbanisation has led to plummeting of the native trees. To revive the trees, Ponnampet Forestry with support from Sucden India this sustainable plan was devised.
“Community forestry is being promoted through the project with seedlings of the native trees being distributed to the farmers of the district. We have been conducting this initiative for the last three years. Final-year students of the college look after the seedlings of the native trees and a few economic crops, under the experiential learning model. The students receive stipends from Sucden and the seedlings raised in the college nursery are then distributed to farmers,” said K Nanaiah, assistant professor of the college.
Look at the numbers The seedlings are distributed for free to the farmers. While 70% of saplings are that of native trees, 30% are crops that have some economic value, he said. Since 2020, a total of 250 farmers (the majority in South Kodagu) have received the saplings and raised them. The college students have also planted saplings across river banks and other protected areas across South Kodagu.
This year, they plan to expand the initiative across Kodagu, he said. The college has invited the participation of various Sacred Grove Temple committees. “Communities must be involved for this sustainable initiative. If this does not happen, we will devise other plans to plant these saplings,” he said.
The project initiative has achieved a success rate of over 50% with 25,000 to 30,000 saplings have been planted so far. They are now targeting 60,000 plantations by this year.
source: http://www.edexlive.com / Edex Live, The New Indian Express / Home> News> Kodagu / by Prajna GR / July 03rd, 2023
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