Call for cultivation of coffee in Sampaje, Karike, Peraje, Chembu regions of Kodagu

India earns about ₹15,000 crore in foreign exchange from coffee production, and the target is to reach ₹50,000 crore by 2047, says Coffee Board member T. Kishore Kumar. | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO

With coffee enjoying a huge global demand, Coffee Board member T. Kishore Kumar emphasised the need for the cultivation of coffee alongside other crops in Sampaje, Karike, Peraje and Chembu regions of Kodagu district.

Farmers of Sampaje, Karike, Peraje, and Chembu regions, who mostly cultivate arecanut, rubber, and pepper, should consider taking up cultivation of coffee also alongside the existing crops, suggested Mr. Kishore Kumar while addressing the 72nd All India Co-operative Week held at Peraje Primary Agricultural Co-operative Soceity premises on Friday.

The 72nd All India Co-operative Week, organised jointly by Karnataka State Co-operative Federation, Kodagu District Co-operative Union, Kodagu District Co-operative Central Bank, and Co-operation Department at Peraju in Kodagu district, focused on promoting digitisation to enhance efficiency, accountability and transparency.

Mr. Kishore Kumar pointed out that the government was encouraging coffee cultivation by extending subsidies and incentives for the crop. India produces 3.60 lakh metric tonnes of coffee annually, of which 2.30 lakh metric tonnes are exported while the remaining is traded domestically, he said.

Karnataka accounts for about 60% to 65% of India’s annual coffee production, with Kodagu district alone contributing 30%-35% while the adjoining Chikmagaluru and Hassan districts contribute 25%-30%. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh together account for another 20%-30%, while the North Eastern States contributed about 10%-15%, he explained.

India earns about ₹15,000 crore in foreign exchange from coffee production, and the target is to reach ₹50,000 crore by 2047. He said the farmers can achieve this by reaching a production target of 7 lakh metric tonnes.

He emphasised that farmers should use drip irrigation and other methodologies to achieve high production at low cost.

With Karnataka’s coffee enjoying a huge demand, Mr. Kishore Kumar said there was a need to strengthen the co-operative sector so that loan facilities can be provided to the farmers and the economy can be strengthened.

Kodagu District Co-operative Central Bank President K P Ganapathy said there were a total of 288 co-operative societies operating in Kodagu district. Leaders of Kodagu district had established co-operatives for coffee, cardamom, honey and oranges.

Farmers receive easy loan facilities through co-operatives and must make proper use of them, he said while adding that the Co-operative Week provides an opportunity to discuss the strengths and shortcomings of the co-operative sector so that steps can be taken in the right direction.

During the co-operative week, a free health check-up camp was held. A market fair was also organized by members of Sanjeevini group, who sold vegetables and other items.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / November 14th, 2025

Bags silver in badminton

Mysore/Mysuru:

B.B. Vishal Uthappa, an 8th std. student of Pragathi Elite Public School in city, has won silver medal in U-14 badminton at the recently held Fourth Karnataka Mini Sports event jointly organised by Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports and Karnataka Olympic Association.

He is the son of Boppanda Bheemaiah and Kusuma of Mysuru and younger brother of National-level badminton player Boppanda Diya Bheemaiah.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / November 13th, 2025

Wins silver in athletics

Mysore/Mysuru:

City-based Master Athlete Boppanda Kusuma Bheemaiah has won the silver medal in 800 mts run in 45-plus category at the 23rd Asian Masters Athletics Championship-2025 held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai recently.

She has also qualified for the World Masters Athletics Championship to be held at Daegu in South Korea in the month of August, 2026.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / November 13th, 2025

₹50 crore released for landslide-prevention works in Kodagu: Revenue Minister

Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, MLA Mantar Gowda and Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja during the ground breaking function for Praja Soudha taluk administration complex at Kushalnagar on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Tuesday said that ₹50 crore has been released for landslide-prevention works in Kodagu and that an additional ₹10 crore will be sanctioned soon.

He was speaking after performing the bhoomi puja for the construction of the new ‘Praja Soudha’ Taluk Administration building near the Polytechnic College in Kushalnagar. The project is estimated to cost ₹8.60 crore. Madikeri MLA Mantar Gowda was present.

The Minister said new tahsildars and village administration staff have been appointed to strengthen administrative functioning in five taluks of Kodagu district. The new Prajasaudha complex will house the tahsildar’s office, land records office, sub-registrar office, treasury and other key departments under one roof.

A large-scale ‘Darakhast Podi Abhiyana’ (land record correction drive) is currently underway across the State, he said. Under Annexure-1, surveys of government land are being taken up and officials are visiting households to collect data to update records. In Kodagu, 2,344 applications have been taken up under the programme, of which over 1,500 cases have already been disposed of, he informed.

The Minister stated that around 42 lakh land holdings in the State are still in the names of deceased persons. Under the ‘Pouthi Khata’ initiative, efforts are being made to transfer such holdings to legal heirs by directly reaching out to families.

Revenue village accountants (VAs) and inspectors are being provided laptops to ensure paperless service delivery through e-offices, he said.

Disposal of cases has also been expedited in tahsildar and Assistant Commissioner courts.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mantar Gowda said work on the KSRTC depot in Kushalnagar is in progress and ₹46 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of the new taluk hospital. He expressed gratitude to Higher Education Minister Dr. M.C. Sudhakar for providing land for the ‘Praja Soudha’.

On the occasion, people’s representatives urged the Minister to establish a sub-division office, establish a taluk stadium, and upgrade the sub-registrar office in Kushalnagar.

Guarantee Implementation Authority president V.P. Shashidhar said the Praja Soudha project is the outcome of a decade-long struggle to secure taluk status for Kushalnagar.

Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja, Superintedent of Police P.K. Ramarajan, Zilla Panchayat CEO Anand Prakash Meena, Additional Deputy Commissioner Aishwarya, and other officials were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / November 11th, 2025

Kodagu over-tourism, landslide risk prompt Western Ghats e-pass, stricter forest rules proposal

The 123-page report notes over 1,000 landslides in Kodagu, Shivamogga, and Chikkamagaluru in the last 10 years, causing losses of about Rs 350 crore since 2014.

The retaining wall built on NH 275 after the 2018 natural disaster in Kodagu has developed cracks. (File Photo | Express)

Bengaluru :

There is over-tourism in Kodagu. This is one of the reasons for the rise in man-animal conflicts. Annually, around 1.3 million tourists visit Kodagu (also called the Scotland of India). This is beyond what the region can hold.

It has also reached saturation in plantations, making it climatologically vulnerable. There is thus a need to introduce e-passes in the region to restrict tourism, restore 500 hectares of forest land, and promote agroforestry.

This was one of the suggestions listed in the Report on Assessing the Carrying Capacity of the Western Ghats in Karnataka – September 2025 (Revised), prepared by the Karnataka Western Ghats Conservation Taskforce (KSWGCTF), which was recently submitted to the Chief Minister.

The report also noted that the Uttara Kannada region has become highly vulnerable to landslides. It has recorded 439 incidents in the last 10 years due to illegal mining and ecotourism pressure. There is thus a need for a complete ban on mining in ecosensitive areas, the creation of checkposts in Dandeli, Ankola, and Karwar, and an early warning system for landslides.

The 123-page report, a copy of which is with TNIE, noted that there have been over 1,000 landslide events in the last 10 years, particularly in Kodagu, Shivamogga, and Chikkamagaluru, leading to losses of around Rs 350 crore since 2014. It also pointed out an increase in the number of homestays and resorts in and around forests, which was one of the reasons for the rise in man-animal conflict. The other primary reason is the lack of coordination between district administrations, tourism, and forest departments.

The rapid expansion of roads, highways, tourism resorts, estate housing, and multiple hydropower projects in Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga was also cited as a cause of conflict.

The report highlighted rising trekking pressure in Mullayanagiri and Kudremukh, where 193 landslides were recorded in the last five years. It suggested traffic regulation in Shivamogga, particularly for pilgrimages in Madeveshwaramalai, and stressed the need to immediately address hydropower conflicts.

Mohammed Tabrez Alam Shariff, KSWGCTF Chairman, said that in the last three years no new permissions were given for the construction or operation of new homestays and resorts, yet a rise in them has been observed. This clearly shows violations that now need to be addressed.

To streamline and regulate tourism and construction activities in the Western Ghats, a letter is being sent to the state government to include KSWGCTF as part of the State Wildlife Board. It has been noted that many projects cleared by forest clearance committees and the wildlife board are later opposed by people. Thus, there is a need to involve all stakeholders when referring projects to the Union government and the National Board for Wildlife, Shariff said.

Sources in the state forest department admitted that many projects tabled before the Wildlife Board or forest clearance committees are divided into smaller projects to avoid clearance from the National Board for Wildlife or public scrutiny. This needs to be regulated. The carrying capacity report will help bring in regulations, particularly when clearing green power, electricity, and infrastructure projects, as they have ripple effects elsewhere.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by Bosky Khanna / November 13th, 2025

24th AGM of Sri Kavery Kodava Association, Mysuru East held

Mysore/Mysuru:

The 24th Annual General Body Meeting of Sri Kaveri Kodava Association, Mysuru East, located in Vidyashankara Layout, Sathagalli, was held under the leadership of Association President, Kademada M. Belliappa recently.

The meeting took place at the Association’s Hall, situated within the premises of Kodagu Model School on Kaveri Road in Vidyashankara Layout, Mysuru.

Association Secretary P.A. Devaiah presented the annual report while Treasurer P.T. Charmanna placed the financial report.

The President explained the Association’s future plans and outlined the development blueprint for school functioning under the Association’s patronage.

C. Manu Subbaiah rendered the invocation. N. Sunil Muthappa compered. P. Padma Bopaiah proposed the vote of thanks.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / November 11th, 2025

I would like to see more players with me from Karnataka: Poovanna CB

Ahead of the India hockey team’s Australia tour, Poovanna CB, a first-time player from Karnataka, reflects on aspirations for the 2026 World Cup.

Poovanna CB

Bengaluru boy Poovanna CB, a 22-year-old hockey player, originally from Kodagu, has been included in the 24-member national team for the first time. “A couple of years ago, my goal was to be here in the core team. Now that I’m here, I’m just happy to play alongside those I’ve always wanted to play with,” he says, sharing his excitement. “All these players have a lot of experience in the game and I’m learning a lot. I admire Manpreet’s energy, seeing him play like that, Harmanpreet’s consistency and attitude towards the game, Hardik and how hard he plays, and Abhishek and Sukhjeet, who have made a lot of difference for the team in the last couple of years,” he adds, speaking to CE on the hockey field at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) grounds, ahead of his departure with the team to Australia for a four-match series.

The lead-up to the Australia tour has meant rigorous practice for Poovanna, with his days starting early and involving two training sessions before wrapping up in the evenings. He explains, “I get up at 6.30am, freshen up, have breakfast and mentally prepare for the intensity of the day’s training, which starts at 8.30am. Red days are high intensity, orange is a little intensive, and on green days we focus on technicalities and concentration.” In between practice sessions, the youngster has also been pursuing higher studies, “I’ve also been attending online seminars and classes for my MBA and try to read a few chapters of books in between,” he says.

Hailing from Kodagu and being surrounded by a rich hockey culture as a child was how Poovanna first got introduced to the sport. Recalling those early days, he credits his mother with pushing him to pursue the sport further, saying, “As a Kodava, we have huge hockey festivals and my dream as a kid was to play for the family team. I started in Class 5 and would play whenever I got some free time.” He adds, “It was my mom who really wanted to make me something of player. I got selected for one of the first batches in Ashwini Nachappa’s academy. Those three years really helped me grow. The coaches there taught me a lot in terms of my fitness and physicality – I think that’s when I grew up.”

Players from Karnataka and particularly Kodagu, were once a common sight in hockey teams but that hasn’t been the case for the last few years. Poovanna comments, “A few years ago, we had a lot of Karnataka players like Raghunath, SK Uthappa, SV Sunil, in the team which was really nice to see. It is sad that it’s just me now; I would like to see more players with me from Karnataka.” He speculates that the reason may be a lack of opportunities to compete. “We need more exposure tournaments where more players can play and talents can be found. There are hundreds of players and one tournament cannot accommodate them all. In Punjab, things have improved a lot, and there are many opportunities for kids to compete in and showcase their talents,” he says.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Bengaluru / by Mahima Nagaraju / August 12th, 2025

Karnataka SHRC wants Kodagu DC to prevent river pollution

At the same time, the Central Pollution Control Board conducted an inspection and collected water samples from ten distinct locations along the River Cauvery.

The Save Cauvery organization emphasized that untreated waste and sewage effluent from various towns and villages in the district were being discharged into the river, leading to massive contamination. Photo | Express

Madikeri :

The State Human Rights Commission has sought a comprehensive report from the Kodagu deputy commissioner detailing the initiatives undertaken to mitigate pollution in Cauvery and Lakshmana Theertha rivers. This directive follows a complaint lodged with the commission by members of the Save Cauvery River organisation.

The Save Cauvery organization stressed that untreated waste and sewage effluent from various towns and villages in the district were being discharged into the river, resulting in massive contamination. This complaint was later forwarded to the additional chief secretary overseeing the forest department, who instructed an inquiry and requested a detailed report.

At the same time, the Central Pollution Control Board conducted an inspection and collected water samples from ten distinct locations along the River Cauvery.

Laboratory analyses of these samples confirmed the presence of pollutants, including sewage and untreated waste, particularly from the regions of Bhagamandala, Napoklu, Murnad, Kondangeri, Siddapura and Kudige.

The DC has been urged to implement stringent measures to prevent the inflow of waste and sewage into the rivers. The commission also sought a compliance report from the district administration by April 27, 2026.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by Express News Service / November 10th, 2025

Dr. U.T. Uthappa of Kodagu among ‘Top 2% Scientists in World’

Mysore/Mysuru:

Dr. Uluvangada T. Uthappa (Sanju), a native of Kodagu, has been recognised among the ‘Top 2% Scientists in the World (2025 Survey)’ compiled by Stanford University, USA.

The annual list, prepared by Prof. John P.A. Ioannidis of Stanford in collaboration with Elsevier and Scopus, identifies the world’s most influential scientific researchers representing about 2% of all scientists globally. The rankings are based on standardised citation metrics and composite indicators of scientific impact.

Dr. Uthappa is currently serving as a Post-Doctoral Researcher/Scientist at the College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, China. Earlier, he worked as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Chonnam National University (2021-2022) and as a Research Professor at Yeungnam Univer-sity (2022-2023) in South Korea. He obtained his Ph.D in Chemistry from Jain University, Bengaluru, in 2021. His research focuses on addressing global challenges in environment, health, food and agriculture sectors.

He has published over 50 articles in reputed international peer-reviewed journals, with more than 2,300 citations and an H-index of 25. He has also filed two patents in South Korea and one in China.

An extraordinary achiever, Dr. Uthappa is the son of Uluvangada Sabu Thammaiah and Meena, residents of T. Shettigeri, Ponnampet Taluk, Kodagu.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / October 17th, 2025

Field Hockey : 100 years of Indian Hockey: BP Govinda, hero of 1973 World Cup semi-final win over Pakistan, reflects on two historic victories over arch-rivals

(Courtesy : Hockey India)

India also outclassed Pakistan in the 1975 WC final.

In the last half a decade, the Indian men’s hockey team have bagged two bronze medals at the Olympic Games, and that brought a lot of joy to the fraternity.

India had to wait a bit before experiencing Olympic glory, but that was not the case for a major part of the last 100 years. With 13 medals at the Olympic Games, and three at the World Cup, India is among the most decorated teams in the sport.

Reflecting on India’s glorious history, a two-time World Cup medallist (1973 and 1975) and an Olympic medallist (1972), BP Govinda said, “It is a nice thing and a big achievement that we can celebrate such a glorious 100 years of Indian hockey.

“The journey started all the way back in 1928 with our first Olympic medal, and we are all very happy that Hockey India is making a celebration of this landmark of 100 years.”

Considered to be one of the fastest players during his era, BP Govinda was a crucial part of the Indian team. In 1973, it was his goal that helped India overcome Pakistan in a thrilling semi-final, before they went onto finish with silver.

In the next World Cup in 1975, BP Govinda again played a big role in the team’s success, scoring important goals in the tournament, as India outclassed arch-rivals Pakistan in the final to win the coveted gold medal.

Reflecting on the memories of those World Cup campaigns, BP Govinda said, “1975 World Cup we really outclassed Pakistan in the finals, but before that Malaysia gave us a very tough time in the semi-finals.”

He further added, “When we won the gold medal in 1975 in the World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, there is no words to express the feeling. All the members of the Indian team were overjoyed, and there was a lot of emotions, as it was a first World Cup gold medal, and of course we were all very thrilled to stand on the podium.”

Now as a former player, and a fan of the sport, BP Govinda believes the current generation of players should always aim high.

He said, “As a team, the Indian men’s hockey team should always expect a lot from themselves. It is important to be aiming for the top prize, the team should always aim for a gold medal. We have won two bronze medals in the last two Olympics, I hope we can make it better in the next Olympics and World Cups.”

source: http://www.khelnow.com / Khel Now / Home> Field Hockey / by Alex / November 05th, 2025