Category Archives: Business & Economy

India to celebrate international coffee festival at Bangalore

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), World Opinion

India is known to be one of the top coffee bean producing country and it is exported to Italy, Russia and Germany. With the prices for arabica bean falling, Indian indigenous arabica coffee which constitute 1/3 of the total coffee production face stiff competition.

RNA Research & Archives
RNA Research & Archives

India is known to be one of the top coffee bean producing country and exports to Italy, Russia and Germany. With the prices for Arabica bean falling, Indian indigenous arabica coffee which constitute 1/3 of the total coffee production face stiff competition in terms of revenues.

One way to beat this would be taking popularity of Indian beans to an international platform and the Indian Coffee board plans to exactly achieve this by announcing a coffee festival in Bangalore.

One can expect an array of events to promote the coffee bean. From the basic strong scented ‘Kaapi’ to the extravagant Cappuchino, India will promote its diverse beverage at the platform.

This will be held between 21st to 25th January and around 12,000 visitors are expected to participate in the event.

“Indian coffee, grown under tree shade, is very popular in the international markets,” said Jawaid Akhtar, chairman of the government-run Coffee Board of India as quoted in a BBC report.

In 2013, India’s coffee exports rose marginally by nearly 3% to 3.14 lakh tonnes in 2013 on the back of sharp jump in re-export of instant coffee, despite sluggish global prices, according to the Coffee Board report presented to the media.

The country had exported 3.05 lakh tonnes of coffee in the previous calender year and this opportunity will help India improve its standing in the global market.

The oldest coffee chain in India is Cafe Coffee day while the latest entrant is Starbucks-Tata alliance and Indian coffee-mongers are definitely lapping up the options and variety.
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What to expect at the event:

The event will focus on issues of health aspects of coffee and innovative and alternate channels of coffee delivery to consumers.

There will be workshops on processing, brewing, roasting, espresso making, cooking with coffee, art on silk and coffee entrepreneurship.

A trip to Coorg, called ‘Coffee Trail to Coorg,’ will be conducted at the end of the festival as per the Coffee board website.

The first three editions of the festival were held in Bangalore, the traditional coffee capital of the country, whereas the fourth edition was organised in Delhi.

So, book your entries and head to Bangalore for some hot cup of coffee.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Money / by Vishal Manve / Sunday – January 19th, 2014

Kodagu homestays come of environmental age

Business & Economy

Kodagu district which was one of the first districts in South India to find the home stay business an alternative to the traditional ways of tourism, has now threaded another path and quite astute one at that. Most home-stays are now compatible with environmental rules delighting users from high value catchment areas like Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Most importantly, tussles between Home stays and resorts with various panchayats, district administration and villagers about environmental hazards have found a logical conclusion. People in eco-sensitive areas in Kodagu district, specially close to Madikeri, harboured antipathy to home-stays and resorts for environmental reasons.

“It had to happen, Kodagu thrives on its natural attributes, its orange, coffee and spice gardens, misty mountains and perennial water streams. If these attributes were polluted that is the end of the district as well as the business of homestays. So we asked our members to strengthen their environmental compliance levels. We have been working on these lines for over an year and now we have 90% compliance in over 65% of home stays and few more were on the way to higher compliance,” Nalini Achchaih of the Kodagu district Home Stay association told dna.

There are about 200 homestays in Kodagu district and over 50% of them are in and around Madikeri. About 45% of them are registered while many of them are in the process of doing so. “Many of our members were suffering due to delay in registering their home stays due to the strict environmental and administrative standards, but they have worked diligently towards it and have achieved high level of compliance,” Nalini said.

“The home-stays in Madikeri are such good stress busters. Many of us go there once in every other month, I and some of my friends used to go only to the few registered home-stays, but now we have so many registered establishments and even environmental-compliant,” said Ajit Shetty, a techie from Bangalore.

Madikeri also hosts some corporate home-stays like Tamara Resorts. “The standards we impose on ourselves are stringent. Our new-gen guests patronize only establishments that are legal and environmental-friendly. There were some teething problems initially, but we have rectified them, specially the needs of the villages situated around us. We have opened up new road for them and installed a waste management system,” Senthil Kumar N, chief executive officer of Tamara Resorts, said.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Bangalore> Report / by M Raghuram / Place:Madikeri, Agency:DNA / Wednesday – January 15th, 2014

Coffee Board reconstituted

Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg)

Bangalore :

The Coffee Board has been reconstituted after a two-month delay.

Many new faces figure in the revamp, which happens once in three years.

The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry through a Gazette Notification dated January 6 has announced the revamped board that will be in place till three years from January 6 to January 5, 2016.

According to the notification, N.K. Pradeep, Shri Nandi Estate, Chekanahally Belur Taluk, Hassan, Karnataka; Anil Kumar Bhandari, Suntikoppa, Kodagu, Karnataka; Immanuel T. Rampuram, Chatnahalli Estate, Siddapura South Kodagu, Karnataka will represent large growers.

Jabir Asghar, Bangalore, Karnataka; B.S. Jayaram, Bidarahalli Post, Mudigere Taluk, Chikmaglur, Karnataka; D.M. Vijay, Hangaravalli Post Aldur, Chikmagalur, Karnataka; A. Thara Aiyamma, Neela Estate, Balele, Kodagu, Karnataka; Vijay Jagirdar, Bangalore, Karnataka; Vasantha Lakshmi Narayana, Near Andhra Bank, Pitapuram Colony, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh; C.P. Varghese, Chittemalil, Malankara, Nenmeni, Sultan Bathery, Wayanad will be small growers’ representatives.

Representatives of coffee trade interests are D. M. Purnesh, Classic Coffee & Spices Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, Karnataka. Dr. S. M. Kaverappa, Haletaluk, Napoklu, Kodagu, Karnataka. Ramesh Rajah, M/s. Ramesh Exports Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, Karnataka.

Representatives of curing establishment: A. N. Devraj, Avaathi Post, Chikmagalur, Karnataka. K. A. Ibrahim, Suntikoppa, Madikere Kodagu, Karnataka.

Representatives of labour interests: G. Bhaskar, Jeyammal Street, Ayyavvo colony, Aminjikarai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. N. M. Adyanthaya, President INTUC, Karnataka & Vice President National INTUC, Nagi Towers, Kadri Hills, Mangalore, Karnataka. Prof. K. P. Thomas, Kakkathottathil House, Kottayad Road, Sultanbethery, Wayanad, Kerala. R. Chandrasekharan, President INTUC, Kerla Branch, Ayikkumathu House, Sooranad North, Sooranad Kollam Kerala.

Representatives of coffee growing States other than principal coffee growing States: K. V. Satyanarayana, Additional Chief Secretary, the Secretary in-charge of the Agriculture Department, Government of Tripura. Rajesh Prasad, Commissioner Industries & Commerce, Assam.

Representatives of consumer’s interest Uma I. B. Shankar, Hosmane Extension, Chikmagalur, Karnataka. Iftekhan Khan, 28, New Ashonknagar, Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

Representatives of instant coffee manufacturers: C. Rajendra Prasad, Chairman & Managing Director, CCL Products (India), Ameerpet, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

Eminent Personality in the field of research /marketing/ management/ promotion of coffee: Peter Mathias, Kelagur Estate, Sunkasale Post, Mudigere Taluk, Chikmagalur, Karnataka.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Industry> Agri-Biz / by Anil Urs anil.u@thehindu.co.in / Bangalore – January 13th, 2014

Lit Buffs Throng Honey Stalls, But Shun Booze

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Writers and literature lovers visiting this hilly town are clamouring for honey, and staying away from its liquor stores and bars.

Bee-rearing is popular in and around Madikeri, and stalls selling honey are doing brisk business during the 80th all-India Kannada Sahitya Sammelana. The three-day gala ends on Thursday.

About 20 shops in the vicinity of the literary carnival trade in honey. On a normal day, they sell 30 to 50 kilos. Over the past two days, sales have doubled.

Ashok, Secretary of the Coorg Progressive Beekeepers Co-operative Society, said, “Each shop has asked for 500 boxes. Each box holds 12 one-kg bottles.”

Despite the demand, vendors have not hiked their prices. “A kilo of pure honey in a sealed bottle costs `220. The price is `180 otherwise,” Ashok said.

Honey production peaks between March and June. “This is actually off season. We are struggling to meet the demand,” he said.

There are 1,100 bee-keepers in and around Madikeri, and 6,000 in Kodagu district.

Chandappa, head master of a government school in Bijapur district and a conference delegate, said, “We don’t get honey in our districts. That’s why we are taking home some.”

The visiting writers and literature buffs aren’t giving good business to liquor shops, though.

Thimmappa of National Wines on the Madikeri main road feels the guests are not the drinking type.

“On normal days, we sell seven to eight boxes of whiskey, with each box containing 12 bottles. Since Monday, the number has come down to four or five,” he said.

Traffic diversions for the literary carnival have also had a negative impact on the liquor business, he said.

Madappa, another liquor shop owner, said visitors from North Karnataka don’t drink.

“A small number come for wine and ask about the percentage of alcohol in it,” he said.

The weather is not helping the liquor business either. “It has become warm over the past week, and that is one of the reasons our customers have just one or two pegs of whiskey,” said Madappa.

The temperature in Madikeri on Wednesday afternoon (4pm) was 26 degree Celsius, not warm at all by the standards of northern Karnataka districts, where temperatures touch 40 degrees. Madikeri has about 30 liquor stores and bars.

Pure for sure?

Rajashree, owner of a honey shop in Madikeri, offered tips on how to test the purity of honey. “Take a cup of water and put a drop of honey in it. If the honey is pure, it goes to the bottom, but if it is adulterated, it spreads,” she said. The second trick is to use paper. “Dip a piece of paper in the bottle. If the honey is pure, the paper will not get wet,” she said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Rashmi Belur and Ashwini M. Sripad – Madikeri / January 09th, 2014

A drink devoid of discrimination

Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg)

Coffee lore may not be marked by more than about a hundred years after the bushy crop made the three districts of the erstwhile Princely State of Mysore its home. Not many may recollect the happening of the centenary of its arrival in the State, if at all the event was celebrated. Residents of the old residential areas of Mysore city may remember the middle-aged, Khaki-clad, bicycle-borne, vendor sporting pith hat in the style of a hunter, peddling coffee seeds under ‘his’ brands of a) Chikamagalur Coffee, b) Giri Coffee (meaning Bababudangiri) and c) Coorg Coffee, delivering the material at the doorsteps nearly 60 years ago. The much-awaited coffee seed peddler vanished unheralded with the passage of time, leaving his captive customers, connoisseurs of refined tastes of Mysore, high and dry.

An unforgettable phase of the history of coffee in Mysore city, however brief, was marked by the presence of a) coal-fired, manually operated coffee-roaster with a capacity to roast a couple of pounds (equivalent to one kilogram) of coffee seeds and b) hand-operated grinding device in most of the middle-class households in order to brew fresh coffee, particularly to appease the grandpa and grandma in the joint-families, now not known to the younger generation of our times. The two most-prized equipments have since gone to the junk-yard (gujari).

The coffee planters may be concerned with a) the timely showers, particularly the April showers coinciding with the blooming of flowers on the bushes, b) the afflictions bugging the bushes and lately, c) the onslaught of jumbos devouring the lush green plants in a jiffy, but the city-dwellers are hell-bent on having their cuppa. The labour class (if there be one such class still in society) as well as the truant white-collared gentry in government offices must gulp the addictive drink more frequently than the limits prescribed by the physician. They couldn’t care less if the brew was loaded with the objectionable chicory and with disregard to right proportions of plantation ‘A’ and Robusta as well as peaberry, not to talk of adulterants.

Bangalore is shortly hosting the fifth edition of the India International Coffee Festival in which more than 1,000 delegates are expected to take part in the five-day global event, apart from attracting more than 10,000 visitors. The festival may augur well for MNCs of the coffee world, but the kick got out of the now-defunct coffee roaster and coffee grinder cannot be matched by brands such as ‘Starbucks.’ Coffee is unarguably the only unifying agent that abhors discrimination in society.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Editorial / January 10th, 2014

Hills come alive for literary jamboree today

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Madikeri (Kodagu district):

Picturesque locale, biting cold, wine and books. It seems like perfect jamboree for literature lovers. The Scotland of India is all set to host the 80th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, the annual literary festival, from Tuesday amid apprehension of possible traffic chaos and shortage of accommodation.

The hill town of Madikeri, about 250 km from Bangalore, will witness a mega literary event as authors and critics discuss the challenges before Kannada language and its culture at the three-day meet.

The backdrop of Madikeri Fort built in 1861 and Raja’s seat, a spot from where the kings watched the sunsets with their consorts, provide the perfect setting for writers to exchange views about region, politics and various facets of writing. Organizers are bracing for last-minute entries and trying to ensure nothing goes amiss.

This is the third literary festival being held in the district since 1915 – the previous two were held in 1981 (presided over by DV Gundappa) and 1932 (Shamba Joshi).

8,000 delegates to attend:

Over 8,000 delegates have converged to participate in the festival that will open with a keynote address by sammelana president Norbert Dsouza, a senior writer from Shimoga. It will be inaugurated by chief minister Siddaramaiah on the dais named after litterateur Bharatisuta.

Seers Siddharama Swami of Naganur Rudrakshi mutt, Belgaum, and Shantamallikarjuna Swami of Arameri Kalancheri mutt, Virajpet will provide the spiritual touch.

A band of ministers and elected representatives will participate at the event lending credence to some views that the sammelana has, of late, become a platform for politicians.

Union petroleum minister Veerappa Moily, who has penned many a literary piece, will be the special guest to release the souvenir and open seminars on language, literature and other issues.

The meet promises to be different. “Kodagu literature festival may change the way lit fests are organized as the place is known for its hospitality and culture,” said reception committee head and Kodagu district in-charge & PWD minister H C Mahadevappa.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bangalore> Literature / by Manu Aiyappa & G. Rajendra, TNN / January 07th, 2014

Farmers to get 50 per cent subsidy for solar fencing

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology

The government will provide 50 per cent subsidy to farmers to put up solar fences on their farms, said Minister for Forests B. Ramanath Rai on Thursday, as an obstacle against entry of wild animals and to reduce man-animal conflict

During his visit to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office here, the Minister told presspersons that the department had put up elephant-proof trenches and installed solar-powered fences around some stretches of the reserve forests and national parks. “This is part of the Karnataka Sustainable Forest Management and Bio-diversity Conservation Programme. However, if farmers want to get solar fences installed by private companies, we will grant them 50 per cent subsidy,” he said.

The Minister said his department was not against development. However, only such projects that will directly benefit people will be permitted. People who submit applications for land in deemed and reserve forests should keep in mind the various rules governing forests in the State.

The Minister said the process of resolving the confusion over the C and D categories of land (degraded forest land) had commenced. “According to the law, there is no provision to regularise encroachments on forest land after April 27, 1978. However, we have received over one lakh applications seeking regularisation of land. A Cabinet subcommittee has been formed to study the issue and take a decision,” he said.

Posts to be filled
He said 700 posts in the department would be filled shortly. “The department is also encouraging farmers to grow sandalwood. We are giving away saplings at Re. 1 and Rs. 2 each to farmers. These farmers will also get an incentive of Rs. 10, Rs. 15 and Rs. 20 for each sapling annually, in the first, second and third year respectively, to ensure its growth,” the Minister said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bangalore – January 03rd, 2014

‘Good potential for litchi cultivation in Kodagu’

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Litchi grown in Kodagu during the off-season can be marketed across the country, says an expert.
Litchi grown in Kodagu during the off-season can be marketed across the country, says an expert.

Growers in Kodagu, faced with pest attacks on coffee and diseases in cardamom, orange, and banana crops, had something to look forward to during the Litchi Field Day organised by the Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES) at Chettalli in the district recently.

About 50 progressive growers attended the event. A field visit to litchi orchards of the CHES in Chettalli gave the growers exposure to cultivation methods. CHES scientists apprised the growers about the soil requirements, fruiting, flowering pattern, and yield of litchi.

P.C. Tripathi, head of the CHES, made a presentation on the prospects of litchi cultivation in Kodagu. He said litchi matures in the off-season, during November-December period, in Kodagu, unlike in traditional cultivation areas in north India where it matures during May and June. As this was the off-season, the fruits were in demand in the market. He told The Hindu that litchi grown in Kodagu during the off-season could be marketed across the country.

The current price of litchi is around Rs. 150 a kg. Litchi cultivation had picked up in Kodagu in the last four years, he said. A grower had planted 900 plants in Chettalli area, he said.

Income from litchi cultivation could augment the annual income of growers who were left to fend for themselves due to the volatility of coffee and pepper prices, Dr. Tripathi said. A small litchi tree could yield between 30 to 50 kg of fruits while bigger ones could yield more than 2 quintals, he said. India is ranked second in the world in litchi production, after China. In India, litchi is grown on nearly 75,000 hectares with a yield of 4.83 lakh tonnes. Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand are the major litchi growing States in the country. At the programme, growers raised queries on profitability and feasibility of litchi cultivation.

Planters including N. Bose Mandanna, Col. Kumar (retd.), B.D. Manjunath, Vijay Devaiah and Shambhu Chengappa participated in the programme. Scientists of the CHES, Indian Institute of Spices Research, Appangala, near Madikeri; Coffee Board, Chettalli; and Krishi Vijnana Kendra, Gonicoppa, as well as government officials were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by K. Jeevan Chinnappa / Madikeri – December 26th, 2013

‘Kodagu climate suitable for growing vegetables’

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Nature

Scientist from Indian Horticulture Research Institute Dr A T Sadashiva has said that the climate in Kodagu is conducive for growing vegetables.

Speaking at a session held at agriculture technology week organised by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gonikpppa on Wednesday, he said that after the harvest of paddy, about 35,000 hectare of land will be left as it is. Vegetables can be cultivated in the paddy field after the harvest.

He further said that Indian Horticulture Research Institute has brought out sachets of improvised seeds of different varieties of vegetables.

Steps will be taken to make these seeds available at all places, he said and added that these vegetables could be grown in kitchen garden and also on earthen pots, he said.
Senior scientist T S Aghora said that 96 varieties have been developed in 23 vegetables. Best varieties are available in tomato, chilly, cucumber, pumpkin and beans.

A beans variety called ‘Arka Sharat’ is considered as the best variety. Vegetables like cabbage, red chilly and red carrots which are grown in Ooty can also be grown in Kodagu.

District Horticulture department Deputy Director S N Sudhindra said that the department will bear 50 per cent of the expenditure of the farmers for growing vegetables. A subsidy of Rs 13,000 per acre is available under Krishi Vikas Yojana, he said.

He further said that a subsidy of Rs 1,500 per bee hive wil be provided for the apiculturists.

A honey park will be developed at Bhagamandala to encourage apiculture.
Scientists Dr S S Hebbar, Dr Shrinivas Rao, Progressive farmer C P Sathish from Somwarpet, Gonikoppa Krishi Vigyan Kendra Director Dr P C Tripathi and others were present.

An exhibition on food products and agriculture equipment was held on the occasion.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Gonikoppa – DHNS, December 11th, 2013

Calling for the best brewmasters

Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg)

Get ready to battle for the best espresso at the National Barista Championship to be conducted by Coffee Board in January 2014. K Basavaraj, head of quality control division and the convener of the championship said, “Till last year, the championship used to be conducted by the Speciality Coffee Association of India (SCAI). The Coffee Board has now taken over from this year because we have the expertise, and the championship can be organised better.”

The championship is organised to identify people with the best barista skills. “We invite individuals who are working at various cafe chains to participate in this competition. Even house wives or people who know the art can participate. These people can get an entry into the competition if they know the espresso method of brewing,” explained Basavaraj.

According to him, today there are many youngsters who are taking interest in the job of a brewmaster and many have become professionals in coffee making. “This competition will, in a way, give them recognition. They can also be placed in top cafes. Many previous barista champions are now working in Dubai and such other places. The 2014 championship will be conducted as per the rules and regulations of World Barista Championship 2013. This competition coincides with the India International Coffee Festival, which will probably be held on January 21st and 22nd 2014. A couple of international jury members will select the finalist. This will also give the winner a good international platform,” he said and further added, “We have a another competition named Latte Hot Championship where the best design on the coffee will win the prize.”

Whether this national level championship will lead the participants to World Barista Championship? “We are yet to discuss about it, which will be done after this championship,” he said.

To participate

Go to www.indiacoffee.org for the application form. If interested, submit your entries before January 3, 2014 to participate in the qualifying round which is to be held on January 16, 17 and 18. Registration cost: `500.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by A Sharadhaa / Bangalore – December 10th, 2013