Coffee plants have been found to grow well in Hasanur and Thalavadi belt and in some locations on Kadambur hills in the district.
The plants raised in some of the hamlets are productive and bearing good beans. But, there is no plantation as such on the hills. An experimentation made earlier on a leased land on Sathy hills has not succeeded.
Cultivation of coffee as commercial crop will be quite remunerative, but there is limited scope for large-scale cultivation. Coffee is, by and large, being cultivated in the backyards for self-consumption, Head of MYRADA Krishi Vigyan Kendra Alagesan said.
The Sathy hills have the ideal altitude of 1,000 to 1,500 metres for growing coffee. But, rainfall is not sufficient. Against the annual rainfall requirement is 1600 to 2,500 mm, the realisation is much lesser. The annual rainfall is only around 700 mm in the district, though it is considerably higher on the hilly parts. Yet, the rainfall is far from sufficient for coffee cultivation, farmers on the hills say. Nevertheless, a few farmers in Malliammman Durgam hamlet on the Kadambur hills have plans to get beyond backyard cultivation. They now look for the right support system, Ramasamy, a progressive farmer in Kadambur area said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Tamil Nadu / by Special Correspondent / Erode – July 13th, 2016
For Forest Department officials, illegal trekking remains a problem in Chikkamagaluru, Chamarajanagar and Dakshina Kannada districts. File photo: K. Murali Kumar
Recent arrest of trekkers for violating forest rules shows the kind of confusion in eco-tourism sector
What starts off as an innocuous desire to explore the lush forests and towering peaks of the State, sometimes ends up as an interrogation by a forest officer or at the local police station. For 18 trekkers from Bengaluru, the experience was all too real when they arrived at M.M. Hills. Organised through a travel portal, they landed in the forests of Chamrajanagar, only to be rounded up by the officials of the Forest Department for illegally trespassing into a wildlife sanctuary.
This experience, however, is not uncommon, particularly with adventure portals, trekking clubs and informal groups increasing in number to catch up with the demand for trekking.
“We had no idea that the trek was illegal. As a portal, we rely on the vendors who offer these treks … it is up to them to obtain the required permissions. We relied entirely on the local guide … since there are no boards or signs demarcating revenue and forest land, those in the trek did not know they had strayed into a forest range,” said Pradyot Punj of the portal adventuresome.in, which organised the trek.
Portals insist responsibility lies on the vendors — locals offering the trek — and participants are made to sign an indemnity contract fixing responsibility of any eventualities on the guides themselves. “After this experience, we will ensure that all vendors have the required permissions. Many organisations are not aware of this,” added Mr. Punj.
Business-minded
An increase in for-profit companies over the last two years has seen rampant flouting of rules, says Niranjan Kumar, an avid trekker, who organises hiking outings on a voluntary basis. “These companies tend to rely on locals looking to make a quick buck. We have seen them litter and burst crackers to make it seem like a party for gullible participants. What costs us Rs. 300 to organise will be charged Rs. 1,400 by some companies. It has become less about nature and more about commerce. This gives a bad name to all trekkers,” he said.
The Kodagu experience
In Kodagu, which attracts thousands of Bengaluru residents on weekends, the trek through the reserve forest at Thadiyandamol — the highest peak in the district — was proving to be a headache for the officials of the Forest Department. “There used to be night treks offered by coffee plantations and home stays in the area. We have put an end to it by posting a watcher there. Also, boards have been installed to warn trekkers,” said Manoj Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests (Kodagu).
For Forest Department officials, illegal trekking remains a problem in Chikkamagaluru, Chamarajanagar and Dakshina Kannada districts. The emphasis, instead, is on the Karnataka Eco-Tourism Development Board to increase the number of trails that are offered legally. “After the monsoons, we will be offering more trails and ensure that trekking and hiking can be done in a regulated manner,” said Vijay Mohan Raj, Additional CEO of the Board.
No night trek near Bengaluru
Benglauru may see more hiking trails once the monsoon clouds clear. The Karnataka Eco-Tourism Development Board has proposed opening of trails such as Skandagiri, Savandurga, and Madhugiri. However, the once popular night treks — done surreptitiously over the years — will remain banned as forest officials emphasise that large-scale human movement adversely disturbs nocturnal animals
Will an app clear the confusion?
With eco-tourism, particularly trekking, remaining shrouded in confusion and bureaucracy, the Forest Department hopes to bring in some clarity by launching “myecotrip,” a mobile application.“From zoo tickets to bookings in jungle lodges to trekking trails, this app will allow citizens to directly connect with the nature activity of their choice,” said Vijay Mohan Raj, Additional CEO of the Karnataka EcoTourism Development Board. The app, however, will be launched only in September after the monsoon and when forest trails will once again be open to trekkers.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / Mohit M Rao / Bengaluru – July 13th, 2016
Kodagu District Minister M.R. Seetharam is seen consoling late Dy.Sp M.K. Ganapathy’s father Kushalappa at the latter‘s residence in Rangasamudra yesterday.
Kushalanagar :
Kodagu District in-Charge Minister M.R. Seetharam on Tuesday visited late Dy.Sp M.K. Ganapathy’s home at Rangasamudra near here and consoled his family members. The Minister also garlanded a portrait of the late Dy.SP at the residence.
Speaking to late Ganapathy’s father Kushalappa and other family members, Seetharam said that he knew Ganapathy closely when he served as Police Inspector at Yeshwantpur and Malleswaram in Bengaluru.
Stating that Ganapathy was a sincere and honest officer, Seetharam assured the family member that the Government was with them and justice would be rendered to he family.
Later speaking to press persons, Seetharam said that the death of the Dy.SP who was serving at Mangaluru was unfortunate.
Stating that the CID probe ordered by the Government is underway, the Minister maintained that the Government was not shielding anyone, no matter how influential they were and was committed to render justice.
Asserting that the Government had facilitated an impartial probe into Ganapathy’s death, the Minister reiterated that there was no question of the Government shielding anyone.
Seetharam also sought the co-operation of everyone in maintaining peace and harmony in the district.
DC Dr. Richard Vincent D’Souza, SP P. Rajendra Prasad, Dy.SP Kumar, Tahsildar B.C. Shivappa, ZP Member K.P. Chandrakala and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 13th, 2016
The association chose Leander Paes instead, a selection that did not go down well with Bopanna, world No.9 in doubles rankings.
Rohan Bopanna at Chandigarh Club. He will team up with Paes in the Davis Cup doubles tie against South Korea at the weekend.
It has been a month since the All India Tennis Association (AITA) has turned down Rohan Bopanna’s request of partnering Saketh Myneni in doubles at Rio Olympics. The association chose Leander Paes instead, a selection that did not go down well with Bopanna, world No.9 in doubles rankings.
On Monday, when asked about the selection, Bopanna played it right down the line. “They have asked us to play together and that’s what we are going to do. When you go out to play, you play as professional players. We just have to go on court and play our tennis and try to gel together on court and try to find a way to win. I have not had a word from anyone. Neither from the federation nor from the player,” said Bopanna, who is in Chandigarh for the Davis Cup tie against South Korea.
“Whatever I say, it won’t make a difference. That’s not going to change the scenario. We just have to stick with what is happening. Like I said everyday is a new day so we will have to wait and see. Did I have a choice? They did not tell me and I got the information through media,” Bopanna added.
In the intervening one month Bopanna had been busy playing with regular partner Florin Mergea. They bowed out in the round of 16 at Wimbledon and lost in the same round at the Queen’s Cup.
With less than a month to go for the Rio Olympics, Bopanna will now team up with Paes against South Korea on the grass courts of Chandigarh Club and the 36-year-old made it clear playing with Paes on the tour is not an option.
“I cannot get in with Leander to play a tournament. There is no Indian out there with whom I can get in any tournament if I want to train ahead of the Rio Olympics. The cut-off in Washington and Toronto is 50 and there is no Indian ranked high barring me. So, even if I want to play with somebody, I cannot play. Unless you assure me of a wildcard for such events,” added Bopanna. Paes is currently ranked 55 in doubles.
Bopanna and Paes have a 2-2 win-loss record in Davis Cup while the former and Mayneni have a 2-1 score out of the three times they have teamed up in doubles for India. Next week Bopanna would be off to Toronto for the ITF masters before landing in Rio five days prior to the tennis event. He has been training under his coach Scott David and says the federation should send a coach and physio at Rio.
“I will have five days to train at Rio. I am still hoping that the federation sends a coach and physio for me. I have been training with my personal coach Scott David and he will be with me in Toronto, not in Rio,” he said.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Express Sports> Tennis / by Nitin Sharma, Chandigarh / July 12th, 2016
The long-pending demand for a sports hostel in Madikeri turned a reality on Saturday. MLA Appachu Ranjan dedicated the facility, at the district stadium complex, to the young sporting talent in the district.
Addressing the gathering, Ranjan a former a minister of Sports and Youth Empowerment said, “The authorities should spot the sporting talent, nurture them and make them battle-ready for big stage competitions.”
.The MLA called upon the budding sportspersons to make use of the facilities and carve a niche for themselves at national and international level.
Ranjan said, there was a demand for sports hostel in Madikeri on the lines of Koodige and Ponnampet, which has been realised now.
The legislator said that, as a Sports minister he had sanctioned Rs 15 crore towards the development of sporting infrastructure in Kodagu district. An estimated Rs three crore was spent on building a swimming pool and indoor stadium, besides astroturfs were laid at Ponnampet and Somwarpet hockey stadiums.
Ranjan said, during his stint as sports minister, he made sincere efforts to introduce guidelines for sports awards in order to eliminate lobbying and other wrong means to get awards and ensure the deserving get rewards for their achievements and feats, he said.
International hockey player Arjun Halappa said “Youth should make the most of sporting infrastructure and opportunities available in the district”.
P E Kalaiah, one of the members of world cup winning Indian Hockey team, Assistant Director of Department of Sports and Youth Empowerment Jayalakshmi Bai among others were present.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DHNS – Madikeri, July 10th, 2016
Kodagu contributed 39% of India’s total coffee production with 1.37 metric tonnes (MTs) during 2015-16, according to post-monsoon estimates by the Coffee Board. The total area of coffee production in the district includes 76,953 hectares of robusta cultivation and 27,969 hectares of Arabica.
The estimates also revealed that coffee production in Karnataka touched 2.53 lakh MT, which is 72% of the country’s total production. Chikkmagaluru contributed 83,810 MT and Hassan 31,825 MT.
According to sources from the board, India’s coffee production during the period was 3.5 lakh MT, an increase of 7% from the previous year. Production of Arabica variety rose by 10% (9,800 MT), while the Robusta variety saw an increase of 5.76% (13,200 MT).
Contributions from other states include Kerala – 68,650 MT, Tamil Nadu – 18,125 MT, Andhra Pradesh – 9,100 MT; Odisha – 600 MT and north eastern states – 185 MT.
The total area of coffee cultivation in the country stands at 4.23 lakh hectares, of which 2.30 lakh hectares is in Karnataka.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Mysore / TNN / July 09th, 2016
Bidding farewell:A large crowd outside the residence of M.K. Ganapathy at Rangasamudra village in Kodagu district on Friday.— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM
The last rites of Dy.SP M.K. Ganapathy was held with full police honours in his native village of Rangasamudra in Kodagu on Friday.
The Last Post was played and the firing of three rounds in the air, followed by wreaths laid by senior police officers completed the solemn ceremony. They then went along with family members to the farm for the final rituals held amid an incessant drizzle.
M.K. Ganapathy’s grieving mother and other relatives at his native village in Kodagu on Friday.— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM
The poignant rituals was punctuated by an occasional sob by family members. Gapanapthy’s wife, Pavana, and their children Nehal, studying engineering, and Sahil, who is in school, were stoic while trying to come to terms with the tragedy.
Ganapathy’s brothers M.K. Thammaiah, a Dy.SP in Ramanagaram, and Machaiah, a planter, were dazed throughout the ceremony, which concluded late in the evening.
“It was Ganapathy who inspired me and brought me the applications to write the exam to get into the police service,” recalled Mr. Thammaiah. Though he was depressed and under treatment, we did not expect him to resort to the extreme step.”
Earlier in the day, there was a steady stream of friends, relatives, former colleagues, and well-wishers to the farmhouse to pay their last respects.
The post-mortem of the body was conducted at the Government Hospital in Madikeri on Friday morning, and later handed over to the family.
Scores of BJP activists staged a dharna and blocked the road in Madikeri. They dispersed once the body was shifted to Rangasamudra. A large posse of policemen were deployed to prevent any untoward incident and to ensure smooth conduct of the last rites.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by R. Krishna Kumar / Rangasamudra(Kodagu District) / July 09th, 2016
Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna apparently can never say no to his wife Supriya Annaiah.
Supriya’s favourite artist is Beyonce and her concert ‘Formation’ is currently running in London and she could not miss it.
Surprisingly, Rohan Bopanna is witnessing the concert for the second time and posted a cool picture of him and his wife as well as Beyonce in the middle of her act in another frame.
Rohan Bopanna wrote: ‘Witnessing Beyoncé in concert second time around … Courtesy the wife’s obsession with her. #Beyonce #FormationWT’
Beyonce’s Formation world tour has a 2-day schedule in London.
Bopanna is currently playing at the 2016 Wimbledon in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles categories.
source: http://www.mid-day.com / mid-day / Home> Sports News> Tennis News / by mid-day offline correspondent / July 04th, 2016
Under the Prime Minister’s Jana Dhan Yojna, Kodagu has achieved 100% target
Madikeri:
In the sector of small and medium bu siness enterprises, Kodagu district has surpassed its target by registering more transactions compared to previous year.
As against the target of transactions worth Rs 20,000 lakh, the banks have achieved Rs 25,655 lakh, registering a growth of 128%, explained Kodagu lead bank manager K A Devaiah. He announced this at the district-level annual review meeting attended by MP Prathap Simha and MLC Sunil Subramani here recently.
The advances given to farming and other sectors stood at Rs 3,41,948 lakh, which is 10% more compared to figures in financial year 2015. With agriculture loans receiving a priority, advances of up to Rs 2,46,211 lakh was extended, which is 30% more compared to previous year. The deposits have also increased, with the aggregate standing at Rs 5,06,625 lakh (16% more compared to 2015).
Kodagu district has 16,851 self-help groups (SHGs) with an enrolment of 98,450 women, including 12,846 SC/ STs. The savings of these SHGs stand at Rs 2,480 lakh. Under the Prime Minister’s Jana Dhan Yojna, Kodagu has achieved 100% target.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Mysore / TNN / July 07th, 2016
Hill slopes blanketed with coffee estates, foggy climate, and fairly adamant rains are what Kodava Nadu welcomes you with during the monsoons.
The Kodagu region’s salubrious weather makes it an ideal getaway for weekend treks, and the Kopatty trail comes highly recommended. One of the lesser known trails of the region, Kopatty takes you through coffee plantations, forest areas, and a massive grassland before taking you to the summit. This entire trek takes about three hours to complete.
Typically a day trek, it’s best to start your journey towards Kopatty early in the morning, closer to the sunrise, but during the rains it’s quite difficult to see one, so you could start as per your convenience as long as you keep track of time.
Reaching Kopatty is easy; get to Madikeri a day ahead. From there take a bus to Bhagamandala or to Tala-Cauvery and get off at Charambane village. It takes about an hour to reach the village from Madikeri. Many people make a stop at Tala-Cauvery to see the origins of the Cauvery rive, but at this time you can’t really see much thanks to the rains. Having said that, the thick fog and continuous rains can be an extraordinary experience. From Charambane Village, head towards the Bhagamandala route for another kilometre, and you will reach Kopatty Temple, which is where the trail begins.
Charambane is nestled between thick forest cover; it’s a small village with light population, and a few shops selling food and beverages for the trekkers. This is also last place where you’ll see any human settlement before you start your trek. Pick up some essentials from the stores here if you’ve missed carrying anything.
The walk into the forest begins at Kopatty Temple. You can meet the locals, or even guides at the base of the hill who help you into the trail. There are also jeeps available in case you want a ride all the way to the top. But there’s not much fun in that is there?
The start of the trail is a tarred road, with paddy fields on either side. The muddy path for jeeps begin soon after, as do the coffee plantations. The road is fairly flat for a few kilometres till you reach a small stream, the first one on the trail. After that the steep climb through the forest begins. It will lead you to a ‘Y’ junction; take the left from there as the trail narrows down, and you’ll find two abandoned houses. Take a right from the houses, and you will be inside the forest. Hereon, the trails gets very little natural light, thanks to the canopied trees, and you need to focus on where you’re going. Also be aware of bugs and leeches. Hold branches to move ahead, but don’t lean against the trees because they’re usually crawling with large ants.
After a while you will spot the second stream on the trail; it’s a small one, and you can rest here for a while before moving forward. You can even drink this water.
As you move forward, you will leave the forest area and be in the middle of a beautiful meadow. On your right will be the dense forest area, and on your left will be the beautiful valleys of the region. And if you look ahead, you can see the Kopatty peak in front of you. The path from here is literally like walking on a carpet. It should take you about 10 minutes to reach the peak, which is said to be at a height of 4,500 feet above sea level. From here you get a magnificent view of the Western Ghats as well.
The descent will have you walk towards Kallugundi across the Kopatty ridge and you will head towards the valley on the left. It will lead you back to the forest from where the climb down is steep, with lots of slippery paths, and dried leaves.
GETTING THERE
Kopatty Village is around 296 kilometres from Bangalore. It can be reached by either bus or a private transport. There are buses from Bangalore to Madikeri too.
source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Columns> Others / Bangalore Mirror Bureau / by Kumaran P / July 05th, 2016
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