Coffee plantations in Brazil, Colombia daze Indian planters

Business & Economy, Coffee News

Brazil’s annual coffee production has surged from 30-35 million bags (of 60 kg) a decade ago to 50-55 million bags at present. / The Hindu
Brazil’s annual coffee production has surged from 30-35 million bags (of 60 kg) a decade ago to 50-55 million bags at present. / The Hindu

Coonoor :

After visiting the plantations in Brazil and Colombia, coffee planters in India admit that the industry here would have to change the way of planting and look for better varieties and clones to compete and sustain in the market.

Karnataka Planters’ Association had organised a tour of Brazil and Colombia in July. A 35-member team from India (comprising coffee farmers and industry people) visited Brazil and 17 of them went to Colombia as well.

‘We can adopt simple things such as hedge-row planting. Our terrain may not be suitable for harvester, but drip irrigation should be possible here,’ said the Chairman of Karnataka Planters’ Association Nishant R Gurjer.

Sharing his experience, he said ‘coffee plantations in Brazil are highly mechanized. This has resulted in their over dependence on scarce and expensive labour. They have also put in place drip/ fertigation systems and water management technology, contributing to high productivity.’

Brazil’s annual coffee production has surged from 30-35 million bags (of 60 kg) a decade ago to 50-55 million bags at present. There has not been a corresponding increase in area, but they have improved in cultural practice and come up with better coffee varieties.

There is no such thing as ‘off-year’ and on-year’ any more. This year, despite being an ‘off-year’ Brazil’s coffee production has been estimated at 55 million bags.

Brazil planters have moved away from frost areas to newer areas. They grow sugar cane, soya, corn etc in these areas.

The varieties and clones that they have come up with are amazing.

Colombia is the hub of coffee, but there is no Robusta here. Here, there is massive replanting taking place, he said.

Are Indian coffee planters threatened? ‘Yes,’ he says, before admitting to the need for changing planting practices, opting for newer varieties and improving productivity per acre.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Industry> Agri-Biz / by L N Revathy / Coonoor – September 02nd, 2013

PG Center at Kodagu this year: Mangalore Varsity VC

Education

MLC M C Nanaiah said, higher education is yet to reach about 88.8 per cent students in Karnataka.

After inaugurating the Students Council of Field Marshal K M Cariappa College here recently, he said, only 11.2 per cent of students in the age group of 16 to 24 pursue higher education in the state.

Condolence

Condemning the accident which claimed the life of a student of the college, Nanaiah said, road accidents were on the rise in the district. The police should initiate action against speed and rash driving, he said.

Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor T C Shivashankaramurthy said, the PG Centre at Chikkaluvara in Kushalanagar will be opened in November. Principal K A Erappa was present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DHNS / Madikeri – August 28th, 2013

My time is now!

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

2010 doubles finalist Rohan Bopanna earmarks this year’s US Open for his moment of glory.

Rohan Bopanna is taking the tourist’s route through New York City – visiting Rockefeller Center, trying a different kind of cuisine each night and planning Broadway escapades with wife Supriya. But when it comes to the top rung of ATP doubles play, the 33-year-old Indian feels absolutely at home. This fortnight, Bopanna, currently the highest-ranked Indian on the doubles roster at No. 7, is aiming to go one-up on his finals appearance at the 2010 US Open.

Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes may still carry a big share of Indian hopes at Grand Slams, but Bopanna’s consistent performances over the last few months on the circuit have proven that he’s found his own niche.

Bopanna, who reached a careerhigh doubles ranking of 3rd on July 22, is partnering Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin at Flushing Meadows and is seeded sixth. The two made the semi-finals at Wimbledon, exiting in five sets to the world No 1 team of Mike and Bob Bryan. Set to open his New York challenge on Wednesday against home hopes Bradley Klahn and Sam Querrey, Bopanna speaks with Mirror about his recent form and expectations from this year and the next.

You’ve seen some top results over the last few months. Have you made any specific changes to your play?

I’ve been working hard on improving the finer aspects of my game, especially volleying, which is a major part of playing doubles. Before starting practice along with my playing partner, I tend to spend an extra half an hour just working on my volleys. I’ve always had a game where I serve big and return big, but I feel that this [volleying] is key to taking me to another level. All top doubles players – the Bryans, [Daniel] Nestor, Paes, Mahesh, even the Woodies [Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde], have great volleying capabilities.

Have you also made changes to your fitness program?

Oh, yes. I’ve been working a lot on cardio and agility work in order to last longer and move a little quicker. That’s what, I think, has changed for me in these past few months.

You’ve spoken of reaching the world No. 1 ranking in doubles. How realistic is that target, considering you have a lot of points to defend next year?

If you want to become the world No 1, you basically just have to win Grand Slams. So that’s my goal first and foremost. As players, we don’t think about defending points – we just go out there and play. The Grand Slams, however, are a priority. And if you win Grand Slams, that goal [of getting to world No. 1] is very achievable.

How close do you think you are to a Grand Slam? Do you believe it could be two weeks away?

It could be, definitely. I’ve made the final here before; I love playing on this surface. It could be right here in this tournament.

You have changed several doubles partners in the last few months. What is the reason for that and how does this impact your game?

In the beginning of the year I started playing with [American player] Rajeev Ram, but during the clay-court season we were not even getting into the tournaments. Then I started playing with Mahesh, but even though we were doing well in the ATP format, we didn’t perform as well in the Grand Slams. We mutually decided to work with different partners. I then started playing with Edouard and it has worked out – we’ll be playing here and until the end of the year, and hopefully we’ll qualify for the Masters.

How much does it hurt to keep switching partners?

It is definitely ideal to have just one partner long term because of practice schedules, playing tournaments, and just getting used to the courts and each other. But sometimes situations arise where you have to change partners. [For instance] when I was in Montreal, Edouard wasn’t playing there, so the options for me were to either miss the event or find somebody else. [Bopanna played with German Andre Begemann and lost in the opener.]

How much does the permanence of their partnership help Bob and Mike Bryan?

They 100 percent have an advantage there. They’ve been playing all their lives together and their success has shown that – especially in close matches where they either win in five sets or 7-6 in the third set.

Practicing together regularly will get you through the most crucial times in a game.

source: http://www.mumbaimirror.com / Mumbai Mirror / Home> Sports> Tennis / by Aabha Rathee / August 29th, 2013

For the joy of sharing

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Hands on approach: Ambika and Anjali / The Hindu
Hands on approach: Ambika and Anjali / The Hindu

Siblings Anjali and Ambika started their catering service, Pig Out, as a tribute to their summer vacations in Coorg

Bangalore is home to a growing number of weekend flea markets. Not only do these provide a place to pick up quirky things, indulge in good food and groove to great music, but also they provide inspiration for business ideas. Pig Out, a Coorg cuisine catering service, started by sisters Anjali and Ambika Ganapathy in 2011, is one such example.

Says Anjali: “The idea came to us at Sunday Soul Santé. Being regulars, we wanted to participate. Our father was in the Air Force and so as children we spent most of our time outside Bangalore. Summer holidays, however, were spent with grandparents and relatives in Coorg, where each meal was an occasion. With every meal there was a growing appreciation for the cuisine and tradition associated with it. So when we decided to have a stall at the Santé, food and Coorg cuisine, in particular, was an obvious choice. It’s something we love and we especially enjoy sharing the experience.”

While Ambika is a freelance filmmaker who juggles Pig Out and her film work, Anjali was working with a beer company in a marketing capacity. “After overwhelming responses at Bangalore’s flea markets, we continued our participation and took on catering orders when we had the time. Over a period of time we realised, Pig Out had a definite following. It was around December 2012 when we decided to take it on full time and there was no turning back since,” Ambika recounts.

From catering for engagements and birthday parties to corporate dos, house parties and personalised orders for one or two people, Pig Out goes all out to make bellies happy.

Stating that they were surprised to find “Pig Out was popular amongst a wide spectrum of people,” Anjali adds: “We even cater to foreigners who love their spice! The response to Pig Out is always encouraging and positive and sometimes people are surprised when they meet us perhaps because they expect us to be older.”

Through Pig Out, the sisters have had the opportunity to connect with people and dig deeper into their own roots.

“We love that our immediate and extended family and friends take an active part in all food tasting sessions and contribute to recipes. But mostly, we love that Pig Out has grown to have its own personality, and it’s given us a platform to learn, experiment and take chances,” Anjali says.

Ask them how challenging it is to run a setup like this and Ambika responds: “Our approach has always been to ‘keep it simple’. So far it’s been fairly straight-forward and easy as we are a small unit. Our approach is hands on. We do the research and food experiments ourselves. We have trained cooks whom we use when it comes to making large quantities of food.”

That said, she adds: “So far logistics would have to be the only challenge we face on a regular basis. We have had to turn down orders in Whitefield, Malleshwaram, Jaynagar, etc, due to the distance. We are currently working on a solution for this.”

Regarding their future plans, Anjali informs: “At present our main focus would be to get as many people as we can to try our food and eventually have Pig Out and Coorg food be synonymous with each other.”

The latest development on this front is their association with the Westin Hotel in Pune, where the duo was invited to showcase their food at a 10-day festival.

For more information, call 9980210979 or check out https://www.facebook.com/PigoutBangalore.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Food / by Neeti Sarkar / August 27th, 2013

Ashwini to attend Abhiruchi prog

Sports

Guwahati :

Former international athlete, Arjuna Awardee Ashwini Nachappa will attend the 30th Abhiruchi Sports Day as the chief guest. Informing this, organising committee president Balendra Mohan Chakravorty said Nachappa will lead the mass jogging of the central function here on September 3 which will be flegged off at the Chandmari flyover at 6.30 am.

Other programmes like felicitation to international athletes of the State, group dance and mass PT competitions among the city-based schools will be conducted on the occasion. The Day has been organised on the occasion of the birthday of Bhogeswar Baruah, the first Assamese sportsperson to receive the Arjuna Award.

source: http://www.assamtribune.com / The Assam Tribune / Home / by Sports Reporter / Guwahati – August 26th, 2013

Team Coorg face UTSC Dubai for Independence Day Cup

Nri's / Pio's, Sports, World Opinion

The hosts: Team Coorg Muscat, above, will take on Dubai based United Thalassery Sports Club, below, in a friendly hockey match to celebrate India’s Independence Day. Photo – Supplied
The hosts: Team Coorg Muscat, above, will take on Dubai based United Thalassery Sports Club, below, in a friendly hockey match to celebrate India’s Independence Day. Photo – Supplied

Muscat:

Team Coorg and Friends of Naqvi Group will organise the 6th edition of the Indian Independence Day Cup Hockey match on August 30 at the Oman Football Association ground, near Near Hotel Mumtaz Mahal, in Al Qurum.

The match, which will see Team Coorg taking on Dubai’s United Thalassery Sports Club, is scheduled to start at 5.00 pm.

Over the years Team Coorg have been organising hockey events in the Sultanate to celebrate various historic Indian National occasions. Hockey is one of most popular game which has a huge fan following back in Coorg, a tiny district in th south Indian state of Karnataka, where the annual family hockey festival witnesses an average of 250 teams participating.

The district boasts now the presence of five of their players in the current Indian national team like Nithin Thimmaiah, Nikkin Thimmaiah, S.K. Uthappa, Ragunath and S.V. Sunil, some of whom either visited the Sultanate or played for the Omani clubs in the past.

Indian Ambassador J.S. Mukul will preside over the match while Dawood bin Ahamed Ali Al Raisi, the former chairman of the Oman Hockey Association, will be the guest of honour. The latter will also be honored for his lifetime achievement on this occasion.

In bringing the game to the masses, business houses have begun to come forward in sponsoring the event and teams. Khimji Ramdas LLC’s Permoglaze Paints are the sponsors of the team colour. Naranjee Hirjee & Co., Muscat Pharmacy (Pocari) and Al Omaniya Finance are the other prominent sponsors of the event.

According to Team Coorg official Kuttappa, the event has been receiving support from the Indian Embassy and the Oman Hockey Association. He made a special mention about the invaluable and continued guidance being provided by veteran hockey personality SAS Naqvi, Team Coorg, UTSC and hockey enthusiast Mohammed Osama Rawat.

Team Coorg: Bopanna, Major Cariappa, Chendu, Devaiah, Dinal Erappa, Ganapathy, Hitin, Jalal, Kuttappa, Kushalappa, Lavin, Muddappa Nanaiah, Rafeeq, Shakeel, Subbaiah and Zaman.

UTSC: Shanavas, Mohammed Anver, Binyanin Khan, Vishakh, Shibu, Nadeem Ahmed, Jamsheed, Qadeer Hussain, Mohammed Raffy and Hashir Ponmanichi.

source: http://www.timesofoman.com / Times of Oman / Home / by Times News Service / August 26th, 2013

Harangi garden to open on August 15

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Harangi Reservoir, one of the most important water bodies in the Cauvery basin, will soon get a garden modelled after the Brindavan Gardens of Krishna Raja Sagar Dam, thereby fulfilling a dream that has been pending for decades.

The idea of a park came about when R Gundu Rao was the chief minister. However, once he stepped down, the project was sidelined and came to a standstill.

Later, when M P Appachu Ranjan became MLA and then District Minister, he put in all his efforts to make the dream a reality. He was supported by then minister for Major Irrigation Basavaraj Bommai who gave his nod for the project.

Bommai also came down to Harangi Dam and laid the foundation stone for the about `4 crore project.

MLA M P Appachu Ranjan told Express that the project was one of his major achievements as a minister in the BJP government.

Executive engineer of Harangi Reservoir Phalanethraiah and manager Nagaraj told Express that the park would be inaugurated on August 15.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by B C Dinesh / ENS – Madikeri / June 21st, 2013

Rebel WSH players to be allowed into the official league

Sports

The players, including former skipper Arjun Halappa and CWG and Asian Games medalist Ravi Pal, who left the national camp last year to play in the rebel World Series of Hockey (WSH) league organised by the Indian Hockey Federation, will get a chance to be a part of the second season of the official Hockey India League.

The fresh season of the cash-rich tournament is scheduled to be held in January-February.

“The players approached us and showed their willingness to play in the HIL. Looking into their potential and future prospects, we are considering them for the mini-auction to be held in October,” Narinder Batra, HI general secretary, told HT.

They included former India forward Prabhjot Singh.

Although no WSH player was considered for HIL’s inaugural edition early this year, the federation later allowed them to play in the national championship.

NEW FRANCHISE
Apart from providing a window to the existing five HIL franchises for transfer of players and to fill their vacant slots, there is most likely to be an addition of a sixth franchise — in all probability a Bangalore-based team. In that case, quite a few players are expected to be bought in the October auction.

The WSH players who have now signed up with HIL for the auction have been given the opportunity to set their base price between $5600-15000 (R3.54 lakh-R9.48 lakh approx).

“It’s a good decision by HI as many youngsters had joined the WSH league, and they have a good number of years of hockey left in them. Performing well in the HIL will give them an opportunity to be a part of the national squad,” said Olympian and former selector, Col Balbir Singh.

Till date only Gurjinder Singh, who was adjudged the best player of the WSH league, has been considered for the national squad.

And allowing WSH players into HIL seems to be the first step before the doors to the national squad are thrown open for them.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> India> World> Sport> Hockey / by Saurabh Duggal, HT / Chandigarh – August 26th, 2013

Rain brings festive atmosphere to Coorg

About Kodagu / Coorg, Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nature

Kodagu is inundated after recent downpours. - DNA
Kodagu is inundated after recent downpours. – DNA

The copious amount of rain that areas near Bhagamandala in Kodagu received in the recent past has pronounced good news for the people of Bangalore and Mysore. The rainwater has started filling up the Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir in Srirangapatna taluk in Mandya district, which is the main source of water for Bangalore and Mysore.

As a result of the heavy rain on the hills of Madikeri, the Bhagamandala-Talacauvery area, which resembled a drought stricken place a few days back, filled people with joy, despite the road from Bhagamandala-Napoklu being inundated, throwing life out of gear.

People did not mind their children missing classes and ignored the absence of the workers in their fields and plantations, and chose to just sit back and enjoy the rain. Men settled down with their bottle of rum while ladies were in a holiday mood and many of them cooked their signature dish ‘Pandi Curry’(pork chops) and ‘Pundi’ (rice dumplings) for their family.

“This is the time to be happy. Kodagu is looked upon by the people in the Cauvery basin as the provider of life. We were sad when there was less water in Cauvery. But, for the past few weeks, the elders were worried about the drought like situation in Bhagamandala and the entire river course of Cauvery and the dry situation at the KRS,” said Prasad Nanjappa, a resident of Madikeri town.

Confirming copious inflow of water into the reservoir, executive engineer of the KRS facility told dna that the inflow improved tremendously to reach 4,300 cusecs per day, which subsequently increased the water level from 65 feet in the past week to 80.16 feet.

“With the rains in Kodagu district intensifying, we expect more water to flow into the KRS reservoir in the next few days,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Kodagu district administration has declared holidays for schools and colleges for the next two days.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Bangalore> Report / by M Raghuram / Place:Mysore, Agency:DNA / Wednesday – June 26th, 2013

Narayani Holidays promotes Coorg as emerging Domestic Tourism destination

Business & Economy

Will promote homestays in the district along with Karnataka Tourism Board

Bengaluru-based Narayani Holidays is extensively promoting Coorg as an emerging Domestic Tourism destination this year. Along with promoting the district’s offerings, the travel company, in association with Karnataka Tourism Board, is focusing on encouraging homestays in Coorg and has tied up with 150 medium-sized homestays, providing them a ready platform to showcase and promote this concept.

Speaking about the USP of Coorg as a tourist destination, A V Moorthy, Director, Narayani Holidays, said, “Coorg has many tourist attractions such as Talakaveri, the Abbey Falls, Dubare Elephant Camp and the famous Nisargadhama Wildlife Sanctuary that are a favourite with families and adventure groups. Homestays are also very popular here and we have tied up with Karnataka Tourism as well as a number of homestays to promote this trend.

source: http://www.travelbizmonitor.com / TravelBiz monitor.com / Home / by TBM Staff, Mumbai / Sunday, August 25th, 2013