Brace up for the Storm

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

This weekend, there is a lot of action for music lovers in and around the City with the much-anticipated Storm Festival. What started off as a campout music festival amidst the hills of Coorg three years ago has shifted base closer to home to Stormfields, Gonighattapura Village, Sarjapura Hobli. StormFestivalKF04mar2014

With an aim to spread love and respect for the environment, minimise the usage of plastic and discourage the consumption of drugs via the medium of music, the festival features over 40 artistes spread across three nights and two days of festivities on 40 acres of lush greenlands.

This edition will see five stages, namely Plug N Play, World Music, Electronica, Singer-Songwriter and Camp Jam, catering to a variety of tastes. “The response we got in Coorg was phenomenal but we wanted to bring the festival closer to a metropolitan city so that more people could experience it.

We were lucky enough to find a venue that somewhat replicates the untouched beauty of Coorg. Especially for festival campers, the impromptu jams, bonfires and bonding with the artistes will be a highlight,” says festival director Lavin Uthappa.

Some very unique collaboration sets will also be witnessed at the festival – Bangalore rock band ‘Thermal and a Quarter’ performing with renowned flautist Ravichandra Kulur, Shankar Tucker meets Shankar Mahadevan, Lesle Lewis feat Gen X (includes his daughter Divya and the children of Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, L Subramaniam and Loy Mendonsa) and many others.

Other Indian artistes who will be performing include Susheela Raman, Ankur Tewari, Raghu Dixit, ‘Avial’, ‘Swarathma’, Nikhil Chinapa, Nischay Parekh, Abha Hanjur and Vasudha Sharma among others. Some of the international acts to watch out for are Belgian techno producer duo ‘Filterheadz’ and the UK house DJ Eddie Halliwell.

The latest edition will also witness a heavy focus on folk music, especially from the North East with artistes like Naga folk band ‘Tetseo Sisters’ and popular Assamese singer Papon. Another addition for up-and-coming musicians is the ‘Voice of Storm 2014’ talent accreditation programme in association with Shankar Mahadevan Academy, the winners of which will perform at Chasing Storm events and Storm Festival.

Storm Festival will take place from January 31 to February 2. However, on January 31, the site will be open only to campers. For details, log in to www. stormfestivalindia.com

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / DHNS – Bangalore, January 30th, 2014

That man Robin again

Sports

Uthappa stars in Karnataka’s 104-run win with a cracking ton against Kerala in Subbaiah Pillai Trophy.

The result was never in question and it was always about whether Karnataka’s batsmen can bounce back after couple of middling performances. Robin Uthappa settled that query with a fine hundred, making sure he never got ahead of himself at any stage, and Karun Nair fired some ammo in the end to push the score to 317

This prooved to be way beyond Kerala’s reach as Vinay Kumar grabbed another five for – 5 for 34, his best List A performance. Karnataka’s bowling yet again utterly depended on their captain.

Prem, stands out for Kerala Yet, Kerala had something to cheer about in the chase – a pleasing ton from the No. 3 batsman Rohan Prem who ensured the chase didn’t fold up quickly. Prem, a left-handed batsman, punched the seamers, drove and cut the spinners and was pretty busy between the wickets.

He rarely dawdled out there, looking for runs from the go. He drove S Aravind, who replaced Ronit More, to the straight boundary twice, and once to the square-leg boundary.

Pity about his team-mates, though. The teenager Sanju Samson struck a fabulous six- a flowing on-the-up hit over long-on off the seamer HL Sharath – but fell soon, chipping the leggie Amit Verma to long-off. Nearly everyone at the top order got a start but no one really carried on.

The second highest score was just 32 from Robert Fernandes and the chase was never really going anywhere. It was all about whether Prem can get his hundred and he did, bringing it up in the 37th over, with a fluent square drive off Aravind.

There wasn’t much sting in Kerala’s bowling as well. And so, Uthappa moved along without much fuss. He sent the new ball in the ‘V’ and once he realised there wasn’t much venom in the track or in the bowling, he opened up.

There was a slog swept six off the mediumpacer V Jagadeesh, a pulled six off the left-arm seamer Prasanth Parameshwaran and the fours never went dry. He late cut, swept and even pulled out the reverse sweep to bring up his hundred before he fell, giving a return catch to the offie Vinoop Manoharan.

It was a hot sultry day at Alur, some one hour’s drive away from the city of Bangalore.

It’s set of three grounds owned by the state association with temporary structures acting as dressing rooms. There were some 20-odd people who had turned up and Karnataka’s Nair provided some entertainment after the fall of Uthappa.

The Karnataka dressing room enjoyed it even more, in fact. “Well played Kulla (shorty) was the cry of joy everytime Nair banged a boundary. He swung Parameshwaran for a six over long-on before turning on the heat against the seamer Sandeep Warrier. He looted 21 runs in a over, carting two successive sixes – one flew over square-leg and the other over midwicket- and following it up with a four.

By the time he fell (60 from 30 balls), he had added 96 runs in 61 deliveries with Manish Pandey and pushed the total way beyond Kerala’s reach. Brief scores: Karnataka 317 for (Uthappa 104 ) beat Kerala 213 (Prem 103) by 104 runs Goa 268 for 6 (Kamath 65, Gadekar 61) lost to Andhra 272 for 6 in 48.4 overs (Ricky Bhui 103* in 79 balls, Dara Benjamin 90, Dasari 27*) by 4 wickets. Tamil Nadu 280 for 4 (B Aparajith 91,M Vijay 90) beat Hyderabad 155 for 9 (L Balaji 3 – 27) .

www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Sports> Cricket / Bangalore Mirror Bureau / March 03rd, 2014

Rohan Bopanna, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi win Dubai Open doubles title

Records, All, Sports

Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul- Haq Qureshi hug each other after they beat Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic in the doubles final match of the Dubai Open. (AP Photo)
Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul- Haq Qureshi hug each other after they beat Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic in the doubles final match of the Dubai Open. (AP Photo)

Dubai :

Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi on Saturday won their first ATP title after re-union as they beat Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic in the doubles final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The second seeded ‘Indo-Pak Express’ duo beat their top seeded opponents Nestor of Canada and Zimonjic (Serbia) 6-4, 6-3 in the summit clash that lasted one hour and eight minutes.

Today’s win was a sort of a revenge for Bopanna and Qureshi who lost to the same opponents in the final of the Sydney International in January.This was the five title overall for Bopanna and Qureshi together and first after they re-united at the beginning of the season. They played with different partners for two seasons.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Sports> Tennis / PTI / March 01st, 2014

Ganesh and Daisy Bopanna are back

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

This Sunday, watch the famous Sandalwood film Gaalipatta starring Ganesh and Daisy Bopanna on Suvarna TV.

The film, which was released in 2008, was directed by Yogaraj Bhat and produced by Suryaprakash Rao and AM Rathnam. The plot is about three friends, Ganesh (Ganesh), Diganth (Diganth) and Kitty (Rajesh Krishnan) and their respective love stories.

The crux of the story is how Diganth and Kitty get a go ahead for their weddings, but how Ganesh’s love story takes a different twist.

Watch the film at 3 pm on Suvarna TV this Sunday.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Kannada> TV / by TNN / March 02nd, 2014

‘Will Protect Plantations in Kodagu’

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Revenue Minister V Srinivasa Prasad said he would visit Kodagu district to assess the misuse of sections 79(a) and (b) of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act.

The sale of plantation land to non-agriculturists to set up resorts and cottages would also be looked into, he said.

Replying to a calling attention motion from Janata Dal(S) floor leader M C Nanaiah in the Legislative Council on Thursday, the Minister said the government was committed to the protection of plantation land in Kodagu.

Nanaiah said plantations where coffee, cardamom and rubber are grown had been exempted from the purview of the Act.

“Revenue officials, deeming these plantations to be non-agricultural land, have been allowing its sale. According to the rules, such lands cannot be sold to non-agriculturists. The buyers plant saplings of coffee, banana and cardamom to show that they are using the land for agriculture and construct resorts,” Nanaiah said.

6,000 Acres Sold

The floor leader said the going price of an acre of plantation land was `40 lakh. Already, over 6,000 acres has been sold to non-agriculturists in Kodagu district and 3,000 applications to register properties were pending before the Revenue Department, Nanaiah alleged.

“The Kodavas are becoming aliens in their own homeland. Forest cover is being eroded due to mushrooming of resorts. There is danger in store if plantation land in catchment areas of the Cauvery is sold to non-agriculturists,” Nanaiah warned.Promise of ActionResponding to Nanaiah’s statements, the Minister declared that those revenue officials who were allegedly hand-in-glove with land sharks and fixing land deals would be dealt with an iron hand.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service – Bangalore / February 21st, 2014

Indian coffee prices gain at weekly auction

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

Feb 21 (Reuters):

Coffee prices in India edged higher at a weekly auction due to strong overseas leads and robust export demand for the beans.

* Arabica Plantation PB grade price was higher by 1,925 rupees per 50 kg, A and AA grade prices were higher by 1,860- 1,990 per 50 kg, B grade price was higher by 1,970 rupees per 50 kg and C grade price rose by 1,500 rupees per 50 kg compared to the last sale date.

* Arabica Coffee price in New York for March was higher 30.70 cents per pound. Robusta coffee price in London for March was higher by $160 per tonne in the week to Jan. 20.

* About 71,000 kg of coffee from the total 186,897 kg on offer was sold.

Arabica accounted for 111,442 kg, while robusta made up 75,455 kg.* Coffee output in India may fall 10.23 percent to 311,500 tonnes in the crop year started October 2013 due to untimely rains in southern Karnataka state, the major producer, the government-run Coffee Board said in its post-monsoon crop forecast.

===============================

Price range per 50 kgs

New Season (2013-14 crop)
================================
Arabica Plantation

PB 12,
200A 12,
500-12,
600AA 12,
600B 12,
150-12,
200C 10,
250-10,
300BBB 7,
500-8,160

source: http://www.in.reuters.com / Home> Mumbai / Reporting by Siddesh Mayenkar , Editing by Prateek Chatterjee / February 21st, 2014

FARMER’S NOTEBOOK : A package of practices for profitable coffee, black pepper cultivation

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nature

EMPOWERED: Attending one of the seminars organised by IISR’s Cardamom Research Centre (CRC) at Appangala in Kodagu on spices cultivation was a turning point in Mrs. Prema Ganesh’s life./ Special Arrangement / The Hindu
EMPOWERED: Attending one of the seminars organised by IISR’s Cardamom Research Centre (CRC) at Appangala in Kodagu on spices cultivation was a turning point in Mrs. Prema Ganesh’s life./ Special Arrangement / The Hindu

Agriculture is no more a male dominated sector, as many women have shown that they are second to none in this field. “Women can be successful agriculturists, if they are supported with timely technological interventions by scientists and encouragement from family”, says Dr. M. Anandaraj, Director of the Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode.
Mrs. Prema Ganesh from Maragodu village, Kodagu District, Karnataka is a role model for other women in this field.

Several problems

When she ventured to take over her coffee and black pepper plantation in 10 hectares a decade ago, several problems started surfacing, especially the low productivity of crops, making agriculture a non profitable enterprise.Keen to overcome them, she happened to attend one of the seminars organised by IISR’s Cardamom Research Centre (CRC) at Appangala in Kodagu on spices cultivation.“It was a turning point in my life,” recollects Ms Ganesh.

The scientists at CRC assured full technological support to her ventures. A team from CRC visited her plantation and identified some major production constraints such as high plant density per unit area, prevalence of diseases and pests, problems like spike shedding in black pepper etc.They provided a complete package of practices to be followed including thinning of excess plant growth to maintain optimum spacing among them, adoption of basin management techniques like application of organic manures, micronutrient application, earthing up and mulching for various crops.“In the case of black pepper, special recommendations like basin irrigation at the rate of 40-50 litres of water at 4-5 times per vine at an interval of 5-7 days during May-June in case of delayed monsoon, regulation of shade by pruning the support trees to provide minimum 50-60 per cent exposure to sunlight were suggested,” says Dr. S J Ankegowda, Head, CRC, AppangalaFor diseases and pests, spraying of two rounds of Bordeaux during June and August/September and one round of drenching with 0.2 per cent Copper Oxy Chloride (COC), and need based application of insecticides were also recommended.Trees like balangi, palawan and silver oak were planted at a spacing of 15×15 feet (random) to provide adequate shade to the crops.In addition she readied several rainwater harvesting pits of 10 feet length, 1.5 feet width and 1.5 feet depth between the coffee plants.These pits also serve as compost pits where all the farm wastes are dumped for two years to decompose after which they are removed and applied as organic manure to coffee and pepper, substantially reducing the cost on purchase of farm yard manure.

Composed husks

Ms. Ganesh makes use of composed coffee cherry husk, a by-product of coffee pulping, after mixing with cow dung as an additional source of organic manure.Annually she spends Rs. 35,000 per acre as operational cost and gets about Rs. 25 lakhs a year as net income from both black pepper and coffee. Reducing manual labour was an important initiative by her.“First thing they did was to lay motorable roads inside the plantation. This has reduced the strain in carrying the harvested produce in bags by labourers.Before the roads were laid, a labourer would take about 30 minutes to carry the bag to the main road for loading it on the lorries.“The physical strain was quite heavy. But now this has considerably reduced since the vehicles can come into the plantation,” says Dr. Ankegowda.

Underground irrigation

Another initiative was the underground pipe-lining for irrigation. Today the entire plantation has well connected irrigation line ready for irrigation all through the year.For more details readers can contact Mrs. Prema Ganesh, Prema Estate, Maragodu Village, Madikeri, Kodagu district- 571 201, Ph: 08272-241555, or Dr. S. J. Ankegowda, Head, IISR Cardamom Research Centre, Appangala, Madikeri-571201, Karnataka, mobile: 09663069241 and phone: 08272-245451.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> S & T> Science / Farmers Notebook> Karnataka / by M.J.Prabu / February 26th, 2014

People of Karnataka, T.N. urged to join Save Kodagu campaign

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Making a point: Cauvery Sene leader B.C. Nanjappa speaking at a seminar in Mandya on Thursday./ The Hindu
Making a point: Cauvery Sene leader B.C. Nanjappa speaking at a seminar in Mandya on Thursday./ The Hindu

K.A. Ravi Chengappa, principal convener of Cauvery Sene, was speaking at a seminar on ‘Save Cauvery’, organised by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene at Gandhi Bhavan in Mandya.

Criticising Defence Minister A.K. Antony and State Home Minister K.J. George for their “anti-Kodagu” measures, K.A. Ravi Chengappa, principal convener of Cauvery Sene, on Thursday called upon the people of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to participate in a Save Kodagu campaign, beginning on February 24.

He was speaking at a seminar on ‘Save Cauvery’, organised by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene at Gandhi Bhavan here on Thursday.

Mr. Chengappa alleged that the two Ministers were supporting the 400 kV high-tension power line project from Mysore to Kozhikode in Kerala via Kodagu. He said that if work was taken up it would destroy the ecological system in Kodagu. Work had begun on the project amid protests. Nearly 1 lakh trees in the catchments of Lakshmanathirtha and a few rivulets of the Cauvery would have to be axed to make way for the transmission line. Already 50,000 trees worth Rs. 350 crore, around 150 years old, had been axed, he said.

The authorities could have considered the existing routes to reduce the damage to the forests, he said.

‘Disastrous’
Alleging that the timber and land mafia was destroying forests, Cauvery Sene leader B.C. Nanjappa, who inaugurated the seminar, said the project would be disastrous for the people and for Kodagu district.

Resorts, tourism projects, development projects and sand extraction along the Cauvery and its rivulets had had a devastating impact on the ecological system in Kodagu, he said.

KRRS leader K.S. Nanjunde Gowda also requested the authorities concerned to take measures to protect forests.

Sene activist Ravindra Karyappa, KRRS leaders Nandini Jayaram, Shanbhunahalli Suresh and Konasale Narasaraju and zilla panchayat member Kempoo Gowda were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Staff Correspondent / Mandya – February 21st, 2014

Karnataka government to allocate Rs 20 crore as CDRP to coffee growers

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

The Karnataka government has earmarked a sum of Rs 20 crore to facilitate the implementation of a debt relief package for coffee growers (CDRP), and will work closely with the Centre and the Coffee Board of India.

At the inaugural session of the India International Coffee Festival’s 2014 essay, the southern state’s chief minister Siddaramaiah said that the Centre implemented CDRP 2010 through the coffee board to help the indebted coffee growers.

“As a part of the coffee debt relief package, the state government extended financial assistance to the coffee growers with regard to the loans that were offered by the cooperative banks,” he stated.

“Further, on the commerce ministry’s request, the state government waived off the interest and penalty dues payable by the coffee board, which amounted to Rs 230.47 crore,” Siddaramaiah added.

“India is an important player in the global coffee market. Presently, it is the sixth-largest producer and the fifth-largest exporter of coffee in the world. Karnataka occupies a prime position in India’s coffee production. The area under coffee cultivation is 55%, and it contributes to 72% of the national production,” he informed.

Siddaramaiah said the state government’s focus was on ensuring the well-being of the coffee growers. “There is a serious impact of the climate change on coffee cultivation and addressing this issue is a daunting task,” he stated.

“Going by the change in the rainfall pattern in the recent years, the issue is going to assume a still greater importance in the coming years. During the current period itself, the state has seen an unpredictable and erratic monsoon,” the chief minister added.

“At the coffee blossom stage, the crop production was exected to be high, but it was low owing to the hot and harsh climate, which lasted two months and was followed by incessant rainfall,” he said.

“In order to mitigate the crisis, the government’s rainfall insurance scheme for coffee growers a few years ago has seen us bear 25% of the premium on behalf of the small growers,” Siddaramaiah added.

“The support from our end has been over and above the Centre’s share of 50%. The growers must realise the risk of climate change and subscribe to the protection against the vagaries of rainfall,” he said.

“There is also the issue of pollution control. Coffee pulping activity has been categorised as red by Karnataka’s norms and orange category by the Central Pollution Control Board. All efforts have made to address these issues,” the chief minister added.

source: http://www.fnbnews.com / FnBnews.com / Home> Wide View> Top News / by Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru / Thursday – January 30th, 2014

Brazilian drought may make your cuppa costlier

Coffee News
ndia effect On Thursday, prices of key grades of coffee were up by ₹30-40 a kg,almost 20 per cent over the previous week.
India effect On Thursday, prices of key grades of coffee were up by ₹30-40 a kg,almost 20 per cent over the previous week.

Dry weather sets off price rally; global rates increase 45% in a month

New Delhi :

Your cup of coffee is set to cost more, courtesy, the drought in Brazil.

Reports of severe dry weather impacting this year’s Brazilian crop have sparked a sharp rally in coffee prices over the past few days and domestic raw coffee prices have moved up in tandem. Global prices — mainly of the Arabica variety — have risen by 45 per cent in the last one month.As a result, small and mid-sized domestic roasters, who sell roast and ground filter coffee powder, are thinking of passing on the burden to consumers by increasing prices. This is because of export demand for Arabicas driving up farm-gate prices. India exports two-thirds of nearly three lakh tonnes of coffee it produces every year.At the weekly auction on Thursday, prices of key grades of raw coffee were up by ₹30-40 a kg, an increase of almost 20 per cent over the previous week.

No option
“Roasters have to increase prices by 20-30 per cent, else quality will take a hit,” said BS Suryaprakash, CEO of Coorg Coffee Supplies, a Bangalore-based roaster and exporter.“It’s a tricky situation. If we increase the price, there is a chance of losing customers. If we don’t, we’ll have to incur losses as the rise in raw coffee prices has been pretty steep,” he said. Coorg Coffee, which retails powder and speciality blends under the same brand, has already effected a price hike of 20 per cent, he added.A little over a third of the 300,000 tonnes of coffee produced in India is consumed domestically. The annual growth in consumption is around six per cent, with coffee drinking becoming fashionable among the younger generation through the spread of the café culture.“This price rise is unprecedented. If the market stays at the current level, we don’t have any option but to increase prices. We will take a call on revising the prices over the next couple of days,” said Shrikant Rao, Director at Bayar’s Coffee.

Watching developments

However, large companies such as Tata Coffee are cautious in reacting to the price rally. “The market has gone up in the past four days. We have to study the market before taking a call on prices,” said Hameed Huq, MD of Tata Coffee Ltd, the country’s largest coffee grower.Moreover, the lower-than-expected crop size back home is seen supporting prices. The Coffee Board has lowered its estimates by about 10 per cent, pegging the current crop size at 3.1 lakh tonnes as untimely rains in Karnataka, the main producing state, has shrunk the crop. However, growers harvesting their produce said the crop is much lower than the Coffee Board’s estimates.source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Markets> Commodities / by Vishwanath Kulkarni / New Delhi – February 21st, 2014