Monthly Archives: July 2014

Tata Coffee receives accolades at the Golden Peacock Awards 2014

Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Records, All, World Opinion

Tata Coffee Limited, India’s coffee producer and exporter of gourmet coffee, announced its win at the Golden Peacock Awards 2014, for excellence in ‘Environment Management’ in the ‘Beverages’ category. Golden Peacock Environment Management Award (GPEMA) is the coveted recognition that organisations across India strive to achieve for environment management.

The award was presented as part of the two-day ‘ 16th World Congress on Environment Management’ in New Delhi on July 11 and 12, 2014. Tata Coffee was declared the winner amidst a distinguished gathering of business leaders, jurists, academics, environmentalists, economists, legislators and policy makers. Present as Guest of Honour was Atul Chaturvedi (IAS), Chairman – Public Enterprises Selection Board.

Hameed Huq, Managing Director, Tata Coffee Limited said, “It is a proud moment for the company to be applauded on a national platform such as the Golden Peacock Awards 2014. Tata Coffee has consistently been committed to environment protection and we rely and coexist with nature at our coffee plantations. We promote eco-tourism and sustainability. We are constantly improving the quality of coffee through sustainable practices and agronomy solutions.”

Tata Coffee has been revered for excellence in ‘Environment Management’ based on its system by conservation of water and energy resources and effective utilisation of renewable energy resources. Tata Coffee is also known as a carbon-negative company as it upholds its biodiversity conservation practices.

Tata Coffee has 19 coffee estates in India which produce varieties of Arabica and Robusta coffees. The plantations adopt sustainable practices in irrigation, water management, and pest control. The plantations have set up bee hives to increase the dwindling bee population and bee activity, which, in turn, will serve the purpose of cross pollination, especially for the Robusta coffee.

Sustainable practices have their benefits, including important certifications: among these, the Utz Kapeh certification, which validates that coffees from the Tata Coffee plantations have not been exposed to harmful chemicals and processes, and the Rainforest Alliance certification, which validates the company’s sourcing and growing practices. Tata Coffee was also the first plantation company in the world to get SA 8000 certification, which recognises a company’s fair employment practices.

This year’s awards were declared by the Awards Jury under the Chairmanship of Justice P. N. Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India and Co-Chairmanship of Justice and UN Human Rights Commission and co-chaired by Justice (Dr.) Arijit Pasayat, Chairman, Authority for Advance Ruling (Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax) and former Judge, Supreme Court of India & former Chairman, Competition Appellate Tribunal of India & Authority for Advance Ruling (Customs, Central Excise & Service Tax) and Lt Gen J S Ahluwalia, PVSM (retd), President, Institute of Directors.The award for the Environment Management System (EMS) is a powerful tool to evaluate oneself in an ecological sphere.

source: http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com / Hospitality Biz India.com / Home> F&B Overview> F&B / by HBI Staff, Mumbai / Wednesday – July 16th, 2014

Shirin in a horror film

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nature

Actress Shirin will be seen next in a lead role in a horror film titled Dhigil, directed by Santosh Kodenkeri, an ad filmmaker who is making his feature film debut. Ashok of Pidichirukku fame plays the male lead.

ShirinKF18jul2014

Says Santhosh, “The entire film happens in one night. Shirin plays a TV script writer who is travelling from Chennai to Coorg. She stays in a home stay in Coorg for the night as she wants to surprise her boyfriend, played by Ashok, on his birthday the next morning.
The mysterious happenings that occur during her stay and her ordeal through the night form the plot.” He adds that though there will be a few supernatural ele ments, the film is basically a psychological thriller.

Interestingly, Santhosh is making the film in Kannada as well. “Since the subject is universal, I decided to make this as a bilingual. While Ashok reprises his role, Sayali Bhagat plays the female lead in the Kannada version,” he reveals.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Tamil> Movies / M. Suganth, TNN / July 15th, 2014

From coffee forest to a coffee museum

Coffee News, World Opinion
Coffee museum under construction
Coffee museum under construction

In the breathtaking experience of traveling across the remote highlands and lowlands of the south-western part of Ethiopia, one can, really, admire the country’s future in building a green economy.

The densely planted indigenous trees on both sides of the road seem to be the gate to a wonderful savanna land. A small town, Bonga, some 420 km south-west of Addis, provides a world-class center for research. The town hosts the first coffee museum of its kind, which many hope will unravel the mystery behind the birthplace of the mysterious green beans.

A goatherd named Kalid is linked with the story of coffee. Back then, Kalid saw his goats climbing the hills easily after eating what seemed to be a special leaf – a leaf that made them so spirited. His discovery encouraged him to be a guinea-pig to test the beans, which proved to be a source of great excitement. This is said to be the compelling story of the beans whose name reached out to every corner of the world.

Coffee has always been associated with Ethiopia’s longstanding tradition and hospitality. Indeed, it became a popular culture among many to grab coffee while discussing matters on the table. A few historians and anthropologists have also embarked on the task to find the birthplace of coffee.

The Kaffa people, located in the south-west of Ethiopia, have persisted with the strong argument that the name “coffee” is derived from their tribal name. They have kept their persuasive journey through historical and legendary accounts. They are, of course, known for their ancient history of self-governing dynasty that goes back thousands of years. They elected kings to ascend the throne, in which their dynasty structure is composed of defense, foreign affairs, justice and another four divisions that typify the modern government system. The last king of Kaffa, Akigo Shokru, was defeated in 1898 and arrested by the then powerful king, Menelik II, after a protracted conflict and several wars intended to include the region under a central administration. His crown is still kept in the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University.

In fact, coffee was found to be a treasure for the region some years ago when anthropologists dug out some of the materials that were supposed to have been used for drinking coffee. Moreover, the mother coffee tree in the so-called birthplace of coffee is still erected and preserved for tourists. Mankira, where a coffee bean was first discovered, has been a tourist attraction in the region. There is still a coffee forest in a wonderful natural setting which is placed to produce an organic wild forest honey that adds further fame for the area.

However, there is little to be said in favor of promoting the area or the entire nation as an original place of coffee due to several problems. Nevertheless, the man who is now becoming an icon for the area and has played a significant role in forwarding the idea of portraying the coffee bean as a trademark of the Ethiopian millennium, celebrated five years ago and also laid the foundation for the museum. Hassen Said (Ph.d.), from the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University, took the initiative to realize the construction of the museum when he found interesting and strong evidence about the association between coffee and the people of Kaffa.

The museum, which is on the verge of completion, rests on 2,800 sq.m. of land and hosted World Museum Day for the third time last May. “It has been quite an impressive journey to reach here,” he said. From the design of the complex to the construction cost, his insightful vision for the museum was the one guiding everything until it became a reality. “It is a simple love; a love that paid for my little involvement,” he said, describing its prominence among the people. Apart from a 10 million birr contribution from the wealthy businessman Sheik Mahamud Ali Alamoudin, the entire cost of the building was borne by the local people who have paid with the last cent from their pocket. “It feels like a blood-built heritage for the people,” he says.

The museum is expected to have rooms for laboratory purpose, research and documentation. Moreover, it will have a coffee park that brings all types of coffee beans from other parts of the country. “The most important role of the museum will be to promote the area as the original birthplace of coffee, in that we failed to do so thus far,” Kifle Hilemariam, chief administrator of the zone noted. In addition to this, it will also have a bigger impact in the promotion of other tourist sites found in the surrounding areas.

With the kind of personality in which Hassen has built, the realization of having a classy museum that promotes the area’s precious treasure to the rest of the world will indeed be an asset. The zone that comprises 30 percent of the country’s forest is on the verge of being registered as a world heritage site by the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO). “This will, of course, boost the country’s image,” Mamait Yilma, director of the national museum, argued.

Aseffa Hailemariam, who is in charge of the museum, notes that it is intended to promote coffee and will also accommodate a number of heritage pieces and artifacts of the people that have been preserved for centuries. “Quite soon the world will confirm Kaffa as a place where coffee was born,” he concluded. The people that realized the importance of environmental conservation a thousand years ago, and kept themselves in the forest planting coffee and hiving bees want to be recognized as “a coffee people”, and this seems be the time to reach out for that.

source: http://www.thereporterethiopia.com / The Reporter / Home> Living & the Arts / by Henok Reta / June 15th, 2013

Record coffee bean output likely

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

Despite widespread attack of the White Stem Borer (WSB) pest in all growing regions, the Coffee Board, a estimates India’s coffee production for 2014-15 at a record 344,750 tonnes – an increase of 13.2 per cent over the final estimate for 2013-14.

Although the Board projected an all-time high output of 347,000 tonnes for 2013-14, the final production came down to 304,500 tonnes, with 102,200 tonnes of Arabica and 202,300 tonnes of Robusta beans. Compared to 315,500 tonnes in 2012-13, the production was down by 3.5 per cent. For the current year, the pest has already affected 50 per cent of the Arabica plantations and the production loss could be the worst ever, if the monsoon continues to play truant. The Board has projected Arabica output at 105,500 tonnes and Robusta at 239,250 tonnes for 2014-15 crop.

“Our estimates are based on the conditions that prevailed during post-blossom period in April. The blossom showers were adequate this year, though the distribution was not uniform and there was a slight delay in receiving the backing showers in certain pockets. This year is an “on-year” for Robusta crop and the conditions are very good for the crop presently. The pest could come under control if there is a very good shower in the remaining months of monsoon. However, it will be known only in September, when we come out with post-monsoon estimates,” Jawaid Akhtar, chairman, Coffee Board, told Business Standard. He said last year, the Robusta crop suffered losses due to a heavy monsoon between July and September, after two months of drought earlier in the year. However, this year, the conditions might change with the monsoon rains in July and August.

CoffeeProductionkf17jul2014

Akhtar said coffee areas were facing long dry spell, followed by blossom showers. Agreeing with the Board, Ramesh Rajah, president, Coffee Exporters’ Association, said the Robusta crop has in excellent condition and depending on how the rains continue in the remaining days, the final production would vary. As WSB is rampant this year, the production of Arabica could come down by 10,000-15,000 tonnes, he said.

Planters have expressed surprise over the estimates for the current year. “Last year was an ‘on-year’ for Arabica and still it suffered losses due to WSB initially and later with heavy monsoons. This year, it is an ‘on-year’ for Robusta. With WSB surfacing, the Arabica production at the most could be in the range of 60,000 tonnes,” said Nishant R Gurjer, former chairman, Karnataka Planters Association.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Markets> Commodities> Food & Edible Oils / Mahesh Kulkarni / Bangalore – July 14th, 2014

World population day today

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The district administration, Kodagu Zilla Panchayat, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government First Grade Women’s College, Government PU College, District Legal Services Authority, in association with various non government organisations, will observe World Population Day on July 11.

An awareness rally will be carried out from the Government P U College in the city at 10 am.

District and Sessions Judge Chandrashekhara B Hipparagi, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiwari and others will participate.

The district level programme of World Population Day will be held in Kaveri Kalakshetra at 11 am. Home Minister K J George, MLAs M P Appacchu Ranjan, K G Bopaih, T John, Capt Ganesh Karnik, Kodagu – Mysore MP Prathap Simha, Zilla Panchayat President S N Raja Rao and others will take part.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District> Madikeri, DHNS – July 11th, 2014

Madikeri Farmer Eyes Record With 41-ft Cane

Agriculture, Amazing Feats, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, World Opinion

Madikeri :

B Hoovaiah is a happy man. A stalk of sugarcane grown by Hoovaiah in Madikeri is all set to enter the Guinness Records as the tallest in the world. The earlier record, set in 2001, was held by Venkatesh Gowda of Kolar.

Hoovaiah, a BSNL tower operator in Convent Junction in Madikeri, has been protecting the cane for three years now. All the required inspections have been completed by expert committees and a team from Guinness is expected to arrive shortly, before an official announcement can be made.

Hoovaiah told Express that an expert team inspected the stalk and measured it at 41.1 feet.

He then formally approached the Guinness authorities, asking them to consider it for a world record.

Later, he received an acknowledgement from Guinness records in-charge, Era Norroy.

Hoovaiah, who served in the Indian Army for 26 years, lives at Bettathoor in Madikeri taluk and has served as a tower operator for 11 years.

He expressed happiness that the cane had been grown organically.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / home> States> Karnataka / by B C Dinesh / July 10th, 2014

M.C. Nanaiah, as I know him

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders

NanaiahKF14jul2014

by K.B. Ganapathy
Former Law Minister and JD(S) leader M.C. Nanaiah, Merianda Chengappa Nanaiah to give him his full Kodava name, bid adieu to Karnataka Legislative Council when his six-year term ended on June 30, 2014. Many MLCs have spoken in the past when their terms in the House had ended. In keeping with that tradition, M.C. Nanaiah too made his oration; but that was a class apart from what I have heard others speak before. In Nanaiah’s speech there was much food for thought for all those who swear by Democracy and Secularism.

If Democracy works best ONLY where there are checks and balances, where there is synthesis of various shades of opinions, where there is dialectical debate and discussion, then there also must be a House in the form of a Rajya Sabha (Upper House) at the Centre and a Vidhana Parishat (Legislative Council) in the States to act as a sieve to further filter what is processed in the Parliament or the Legislative Assembly. After all, law-makers are not Solomons, nor above reproach in their thinking and conduct. It is obvious Nanaiah has realised this deficiency, lack of maturity and haste on matters of Bills deliberated in the Parliament or the Assembly and therefore, in his farewell speech, he devoted much time on the need for making the institution of Legislative Council mandatory by amending the Constitution.

At present, the Constitution allows only Rajya Sabha to be a permanent house but not the Vidhana Parishat. As a result some States have abolished the Council. Hence Nanaiah’s concern. He may also have apprehended that such a doomsday may overtake Karnataka Legislative Council too at a future date and hence his appeal to the Speaker to take up the issue as an amendment to the Constitution to make the Legislative Council mandatory for all States. Tamil Nadu for example had a Legislative Council for many years. However, it was abolished by M.G. Ramachandran Government on Nov. 1, 1986.

In his impassioned oratorical flourish, as is his wont whenever on his feet to deliver a speech, he said the existence of the Legislative Council is imperative in view of the seriousness with which Bills have to be debated before passing them into Law.

In order to corroborate his point, he gave the example of the system prevalent in the United States where the US Congress (their Lower House equivalent to our Lok Sabha) always appreciated the role of the US Senate. Nanaiah said that in US the members of the Congress used to say that the Senators “Pour the Legislation into the Senatorial saucer for cooling.” And the Legislations (Bills) vetted by the Senators were the only ones that could be considered as Law. Let us hope our politicians heed Nanaiah’s words of wisdom distilled after over 40 years in State politics.

M.C. Nanaiah is Mr. Clean politician of Karnataka who survived in the “cesspool of corruption” without blemish, like a lotus in the murky waters. I know him since 1956. He was one year senior to me in the then Government First Grade College in Madikeri, Kodagu, now Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College and in law college at Bangalore. Loud with a silver tongue, he would stand out in any group of students. He was assertive and daring in speech but some students thought that he was a master manipulator. I had no occasion to test this allegation which I thought was made by those who envied his dash and drive.

A.K. Subbaiah, Ajjikuttira Kariappa Subbaiah to give him his full Kodava name, who also became famous as a politician like Nanaiah, was one year junior to Nanaiah like I was. I don’t know about the age though. I remember Nanaiah defeating Subbaiah in the 1957-58 college elections. Later in life as both marched like knights-in-arms to fight the political battle, it was Nanaiah who made it once to the Legislative Assembly, then as MLC and finally to the State Cabinet. He was Forest Minister and then, many years later, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister for five years with the additional charge of Information Ministry.

In contrast, Subbaiah only made news, acquiring the epithet in Kannada as “suddi maduva Subbaiah,” which means “Subbaiah who makes news.” Some even called him as “Five day Lawyer, weekend Crusader.” If ego and hubris destroyed Subbaiah’s political opportunities (of which he had so many as a BJP Leader), as for Nanaiah it was the gift of the gab and indeed the intelligent persuasive ability and manipulative skills that took him to the acme of State Political Office via Legislative Council as he was not able to win Assembly elections except once.

After Kodagu got integrated with the then Mysore State, (now Karnataka) following the State reorganisation (1956), two persons who came on the political horizon of Kodagu are M.C. Nanaiah and A.K. Subbaiah, separated in their political ideologies as sharply as oil and water. If Nanaiah was a leftist, Subbaiah was a rightist. Nanaiah was into Congress, a change over from his Communist beliefs and Subbaiah was into Jan Sangh. Nanaiah then switched to JD(S) and became an achiever; but in contrast, Subbaiah followed his saffron brothers into BJP and almost came out as an achiever, but no. Soon he committed political harakiri because of hubris after winning some 18 Assembly seats under his leadership in the year 1983. It was a case of the time-tested maxim “pride goes before the fall.” Subbaiah was so presumptuous he thought without him BJP in Karnataka could not survive. He was unable to grasp the importance of a national political party in a democracy where individuals come and go but the party goes on. He was unceremoniously ousted from the BJP and despite changing political parties thereafter, rather shamelessly, he became a political pariah. His political career was doomed once and for all. In contrast, Nanaiah played his political cards well even when he was dealt with bad cards. Once he joined the JD(S), he became its loyal worker, nay soldier. Naturally, he rose to the rank of a General – Minister !

When Nanaiah was in Congress, political churning was taking place in Karnataka’s Congress Government led by D. Devaraj Urs, following the defeat of Indira Gandhi in the post-Emergency election. Nanaiah was inducted into Devaraj Urs ministry as Forest Minister. R. Gundu Rao, who had by then moved too close to Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi derisively called Nanaiah as a “Peppermint Minister.” Soon Devaraj Urs was dethroned, dumped from Congress and Gundu Rao became the Chief Minister. Thanks to Sanjay Gandhi. Being old friends, Gundu Rao urged Nanaiah to join Congress. But Nanaiah’s loyalty to Urs did not allow him to renege. For a time he was in political doldrums, but soon found himself a place in Janata Party and then the JD(S). If politics is the “art of possibilities,” Nanaiah indeed has mastered that art. It was a case of discovering the truth of the Kannada proverb “thaalidavanu baaliyanu.” He who has patience will survive. Speaking to media recently, Nanaiah has said, “politics is a strange coincidence of incidents.” Indeed true in this game of ‘snake and ladder’ which is politics.

Yesterday morning, I was speaking to Nanaiah to express my appreciation for his “hurrah” speech in the Legislative Council and mentioned of what the former Chief Minister and JD(S) State President H.D. Kumaraswamy has brought upon himself unwittingly, by demanding Rs. 40 crores for a MLC seat etc. Of course, those who know how these “tickets” are given by all political parties were not surprised but Kumaraswamy was caught on tape and got huge negative publicity. Responding, Nanaiah recalled his friendly talks with MLAs on the subject some six years ago. Indeed, some MLAs opined that they being the voters in the MLC election, they must get a share in the money collected from the candidate by the party. After all, these MLAs claimed that they too have spent a fortune to get elected as MLAs.

However, Nanaiah asked them what if a candidate like him who has no money to pay to the party and is given the ticket on merit. The good MLAs told Nanaiah, “Then there is no problem. We don’t make any demand.” Nanaiah got smart and told the MLAs: “Well then, go and tell Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy that you would not ask for money if the ticket is given to me” and Nanaiah became the JD(S) MLC six years ago to retire on June 30, 2014.

e-mail: kbg@starofmysore.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Abracadabra….Abracadabra .. / by K.B. Ganapathy / July 09th, 2014

Datty Sadananda Gowda ‘s pressure helped get Mysore-Kushalnagar rail link : MP

Uncategorized

Mysore-Kushalnagar rail line may extend till Madikeri

Mysore :

Mysore-Kodagu Lok Sabha MP Pratap Simha has expressed happiness over the announcement of Mysore-Kushalnagar-Madikeri railway link in yesterday’s railway budget.

Speaking to SOM yesterday, Pratap Simha said the Mysore-Madikeri railway link was a long standing demand of the people of Kodagu. He had promised the railway link during his campaign for the Lok Sabha, which has now been fulfilled with the announcement, he remarked. Pointing out that he had met railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda thrice and PM Narendra Modi for fulfilment of the railway needs of the region, Pratap Simha thanked the Railway Minister for making the announcement.

Asserting that the Railway Minister had promised execution of the Mysore-Madikeri rail link soon after the completion of Kushalnagar-Madikeri stretch survey, the MP said Sadananda Gowda’s wife Dattay Sadananda Gowda too had exerted pressure on her husband for the rail link.

City BJP President Maruti Rao Pawar has expressed delight over the maiden Railway Budget presented by Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda yesterday.

Addressing a press-meet here yesterday, Pawar said that the BJP as promised is promoting tourism in Mysore region by providing a new Mysore-Kushalnagar train which is bound to boost tourism in Mysore and Kodagu districts.

Stating that the State has got 10 new trains in the budget, the City BJP President said the Railway Minister taking into consideration MP Pratap Simha’s appeal has promised to complete the Mysore-Bangalore track doubling within a year.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 09th, 2014

Coffee Board projects record crop next season

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

ChartKF13jul2014

Growers sceptical due to prolonged dry period, borer menace

Chennai :
The Coffee Board has projected a record crop of 3.44 lakh tonnes (lt) for the new season beginning October, but growers are sceptical about the estimates.

According to the Coffee Board’s post-blossom estimate, Arabica output will be 1.05 lt and Robusta 2.34 lt. (The estimate of crop made after the coffee plant blossoms and spikes develop on the plant is the post-blossom estimate.)

This is against a revised estimate of 3.04 lt this season ending September (1.02 lt Arabica and 2.02 lt Robusta).

“I think this output could be difficult to achieve, especially with regard to Arabica. This is because even in best-maintained plantations, there is heavy infestation of the white stem borer,” said Anil K Bhandari, former president of the United Planters’ Association of Southern India, and an exporter.

Other opinions
“Such levels of production cannot come from the original area under coffee in the country. This year, most planters are complaining that their output will be down by at least 40 per cent as far as Arabica is concerned. In my own estates, the output will drop to 10 tonnes from 40 tonnes,” said Bose Mandanna, former Coffee Board Vice-Chairman and a planter in Kodagu, Karnataka.

Due to a prolonged dry season, the menace of the white stem borer, which has been wreaking havoc in coffee plantations over the past decade, is a serious threat this year.

“Maybe, the estimate put out by the Coffee Board was the situation prevalent during blossom. After that, there has been a tremendous loss in the estates due to the borer menace,” said Bhandari.

This year, coffee estates are reported to have received timely showers for blossoming of the coffee flower. Follow-up showers, required for growth of the plant, were also good before the borer menace spread panic.

According to the Board estimate, Karnataka will contribute 72 per cent of the coffee production next season, up from nearly 70 per cent this season. Output in Karnataka will be 2.48 lt (80,700 tonnes Arabica and 1.67 lt robusta) against 2.11 lt this season (78,440 tonnes Arabica and 1.32 lt Robusta).

Kodagu’s contribution will be 43 per cent with 20,150 tonnes of Arabica and 1.13 lt of Robusta (21,040 tonnes Arabica and 90,820 tonnes of Robusta). Last year, its contribution to the country’s coffee production was 36 per cent.

Fears of drought
“It is almost like a drought situation in Kodagu. It is unlikely that the district will provide so much coffee this year,” Mandanna said.

“It is likely that the Coffee Board could revise the estimate downwards after taking into account the effect of monsoon and other things. It should carry out another estimate later and put it out during October-November. That could perhaps reflect a correct picture,” Bhandari said.

According to plantation industry sources, for the last few years, the Coffee Board has been putting out a higher projection of the crop in its post-blossom estimate.

“This has been happening for sometime now. They come out with a higher figure and then revise it. Who gains from such estimates,?” a source wondered.

Last year, the Coffee Board initially estimated the crop at a record 3.47 lakh tonnes before pegging it finally at 3.04 lakh tonnes.

This season’s production estimate was lowered after heavy rains in the growing areas led to wet feet in coffee plants resulting in the roots growth freezing. This led to coffee berries falling off the plant, leading to loss.

“The Board has to revise its methodology in estimating the crop. Then, perhaps it could be nearer to reality,” the source said.

source: http://ww.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Markets> Commodities / by MR Subramani / Chennai – July 08th, 2014

Kodagu inches closer to rail connectivity

About Kodagu / Coorg, Business & Economy

Mysore :

A train to Kodagu could now be possible, which could sell tourism potential of the hill station to both domestic and foreign tourists and be the driver of economy.

Thanks to railway minister D V Sadananda Gowda, the only district in Karnataka without railway connectivity is inching closer to get on the rail map of India.

Gowda, whose wife Datty is from Kodagu district, on Tuesday approved the survey of new line that will connect Mysore to Madikeri, the district headquarters. He said: “I am happy to announce that the survey for Mysore-Kushalnagar portion of Mysore-Kushalnagar-Madikeri new line has been completed and the state government has agreed to share cost of the project. This will provide rail connectivity to important tourist destinations in Kodagu (Coorg). I propose to pursue this project for obtaining requisite approvals after completion of remaining survey up to Madikeri.”

Sources in the Mysore division of the South Western Railway said that the survey between Mysore and Kushalnagar has been completed in 2011. The preliminary survey between Kushalnagar and Madikeri is completed t the final location survey is not taken up. With the approval from the railway minister, the project is back on track, they told The Times of India. The Mysore-Kushalnagar section is estimated to be 89 kms long and is planned to have over five stations including one at Peripayapatna. But the estimate for this section is not prepared, they added. As the minister has said if the state government funds its share, the project can be taken up, they explained adding the survey for the remaining portion can be completed within an year.

The Mysore Industries Association welcomed the move and said it will help in the development of the area.

Besides, the track doubling works between Mysore and Bangalore is expected to completed year end, which will improve connectivity to the city. Gowda has said that they plan to open the double track by February 2015 and operate trains. Inclusion of Mysore-Bangalore-Chennai corridor for high speed train connectivity is also welcomed by the MIA.

Connectivity to Shimoga set to improve

Gowda has also announced new survey between Talguppa and Siddapura in Uttara Kannada, which could help link the costal Karnataka to the Malnad region. It was long pending demand of the public to extend railway connectivity from Talguppa near Jog Falls in Shimoga district and link it to Konkan Railway. Shimoga, represented by former CM B S Yeddyurappa in the Lok Sabha, has also got lucky with a new survey ordered between Shimoga and Mangalore via Sringeri. Shimoga has also got a bi-weekly train to Bangalore.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Msore / by H M Aravind, TNN / July 08th, 2014