Pepper farmers from Wayanad visiting a pepper farm in Coorg.
A study tour organised jointly by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) here and Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD), Kozhikode, to various pepper plantations in Coorg in Karnataka provided a fresh experience to the pepper farmers in Wayanad.
Decades ago, Wayanad was known as the land of spices but it lost its fame in pepper production since the 1990s when the vines began to get affected by various diseases.
“We organised the tour to provide an exposure to the farmers on the significance of adopting scientific practices in pepper cultivation to keep the diseases at bay and improve pepper production, P. Ramakrishnan, training coordinator, MSSRF, told The Hindu .
The organisations have been jointly organising training programmes for progressive farmers on modern agriculture practices in pepper cultivation for the past one year. The effort is to bring back the lost glory of the district as a leading pepper producer, Mr. Ramakrishnan said.
As part of the tour, 25 farmers visited various pepper plantations in Coorg, including a farm of the DASD at Appagala in Coorg.
They were told about the way the DASD tackled the quick wilt disease that had spread in various parts of Coorg a decade ago, threatening the pepper plantations here.
Scientific agriculture practices were followed, and farmers in the area were getting an average yield of 7 tonne pepper from a hector, Mr. Ramakrishnan said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by E. M. Manoj / Kalpetta, April 01st, 2015
Fkcci President S Sampath Raman said Fkcci will not support the establishment of industries harmful to the environment in Kodagu District. There is a need to set up eco-friendly industries that will support tourism, education and health sector.
Speaking after flagging of golden jubilee celebrations of Kodagu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in Madikeri, on Tuesday, he said tourism is being promoted in Kodagu District.
There is a need to strengthen road and railway connectivity to the district. Mangaluru-Mysuru highway that passes through Madikeri should be developed further.
Fkcci will impress upon the government on the need for the laying of railwayline till Kushalnagar, he added.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has chalked out several programmes for the development of tourist spots in the state. He has given nod for laying of five cable cars in the state.
However, the government has forgotten to include to lay a cable car at Mallalli waterfalls.
He said that the FKCCI will urge the government to check elephant-humanbeing strife, initiate measures to construct private bus stand at Madikeri, develop Koodige Sainik School and Coffee Park in the district.
Kodagu District Chamber of Commerce and Industry President B N Prakash said the chamber of commerce will organise 50 unique programme as part its golden jubilee celebrations throughout the year.
“The tourists will visit in a large number if the city is kept clean. Promotion of tourism will help in generating employment.
“Swaccha Kodagu—Hasiru Kodagu” campaign will be organised in the near future.
Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry Senior Vice President Dwarakanath released a logo of the golden jubilee celebrations.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Madikeri – DHNS, April 01st, 2015
Bengalur actor Gulshan Devaiah speaks to The Hindu on his experience playing the role of Mandar Ponkshe in Hunterrr
Bengaluru actor Gulshan Devaiah is making headlines these days, having played Hindi cinema’s first-of-its-kind understated sex addict in Hunterrr. The boy, who started off in the English theatre circuit working with Kalki Koechlin, and then moved on to play negative roles in films like Shaitan and That Girl in Yellow Boots (where he played Chittiappa the don), talks to MetroPlus about how everyone knows a sex addict like Mandar, about how he’s a performance-oriented actor, how he’s gone undercover to theatres, on life in Bengaluru, and growing up.
Your role as sex addict Mandar Ponkshe is being seen as a rather bold one in Hindi cinema. Did you see it that way?
No. Even when I read the script I didn’t feel it was a ground-breaking role. I didn’t pick the role. I make do with what comes to me. But this role was different. Harshavardhan (Kulkarni, the director) was offering me a comedy role when I was getting only violent roles! The first 15 pages of Hunterrr were great, and I think it was Naseeruddin Shah who said if the first 10 pages of the script are not great, then it’s not worth doing it. I liked the character. I liked the ordinariness of the guy.
He is your average Joe, or Ramu, who lives a colourful “secret” life; he’s not brave to admit it openly, and he wants to keep it safe. I suppose this is how it is in real life too – Harshavardhan knows such guys, based on whom he wrote the script. They don’t brag about what they do; you accidentally figure it out. I knew a guy like this – you know how boy-talk is! And in my opinion, one should never over-think anything. If a role appeals to you and your portrayal is sincere, that’s all that matters. The character had an Amol Palekar feel…
But this story is far removed from the innocence of Palekar’s films…
But that was a different time. It was the 70s and art reflected the era. I’ve not followed all his films, but I don’t think Amol Palekar did any A-rated film at all. All my films, funnily, have an A rating (adult censor certificate).
Going by the kind of reactions the film has got, it’s been more appealing to men.
And I understand why. It’s because of the sexuality, and men are able to relate to the protagonist. But that doesn’t mean there is nothing in the film for women. I’m sure they too have seen such men in their lives — a lot of people love Barney’s character in How I met Your Mother. This film is definitely no chick-flick. But I have gone covertly into theatres for the first time, just to see the reaction and was happy to find women coming in with families, girls bringing their boyfriends.
You’ve been doing these oddball roles in Bollywood all along…
You make these choices because of your sensibilities. I’m a performance-oriented actor. I can’t just spread out my arms and look good. My approach to acting comes from my theatre background. I rely on my imagination, having grown up alone, as an only child.
Tell us more about your life.
I’ve lived all my 30 years in Jalahalli. I went to Cluny Convent Jalahalli and St Joseph’s Indian High School — there were a lot of Mandars there!
What’s happening on the theatre front? Things seem to have quietened there.
I have indefinitely retired from theatre. It’s taught me everything I know. I’ve never had the opportunity nor the privilege to go to any acting school. But I felt a certain level of dishonesty was creeping in. It was not fair to do theatre when I was not having fun.
What next?
I’m working in two Pooja Bhatt productions — Love Affair (with friend and co-star Kalki Koechlin), and Cabaret with Richa Chadha. There’s Junooniyat with director Vivek Agnihotri. There’s an indie called Candy Flip set in a shack in Goa that I’m also doing. And then I’m doing Ishq Uncensored with Kalki again.
So, Kalki’s a favourite to work with, ever since your theatre days?
Yes, there’s a comfort level and camaraderie. She and my wife are great friends, and it was her husband (Anurag Kashyap) who gave me my first break!
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Bhumika K / March 30th, 2015
Brisk preparations are on at the Junior College grounds here where the Kuppanda Cup Hockey tournament will be held from April 15 to May 9. The Tournament Reception Committee Convenor Rajiv Cariappa has expressed confidence in completion of all ground and gallery works before April 10.
Addressing a press meet at the Press Club here, Rajiv said that over 200 teams had registered their names for the tourney which would be organised as per the rules of Hockey India by Hockey Kodagu.
Kuppanda Bopanna added that the date for registration had been extended till Mar. 31 and the ties would be released on April 3 at the Hockey Academy meeting.
The press meet was attended by Reception Committee Secretary Kuppanda Vinod Belliappa and others.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / March 28th, 2015
It’s not uncommon for people to pick up a stick and fiddle with it. But eventually they get bored of the ‘game’ and throw it aside. Bheemaiah KK, however, decided to earn a living from these discarded pieces of wood.
‘Bheemstyx’ is a unique start-up – most people don’t spend years curing and crafting sticks that are otherwise disregarded in an attempt to turn them into something beautiful and durable. Bheemaiah has, over time, progressed from crafting walking sticks to home decor sticks, gadget sticks, city walking sticks and more.
“About a year ago, I found inspiration in a friend’s collection of hand-carved walking sticks; I had a though ‘I could make those and I could make them even better!’,” he says. Since then, the coffee planter from Coorg, who shuttles between Bengaluru and Madikeri, has spent a lot of time scavenging for different kinds of sticks. He says he doesn’t go in search of a particular kind of a stick but rather, “When I see a stick on the ground, I think what I can do with it. I never cut a tree to make the sticks.”
Bheemaiah has an altogether thorough process of making the sticks. He says he prefers hunting for sticks in summer and spring because then they are relatively dry and free from insect infestation. “The process is very time consuming because far more sticks are rejected than harvested because they are either too crooked, thin, thick or straight…there are a million reasons! When I get home, I first strip off the bark and allow the branch to dry in the sun for up to two weeks, while sealing the ends up to prevent splitting. Then I let it dry for a few more months before I decide what to do with them.” The sticks are then sanded, shaped, painted, accessorised and glamourised.
The sticks are unique because not only are they hand-carved but they are multi-purpose. Made from hardwood, there are country and deep river walking sticks that come with a compass or catapult attached to the head of the sticks. They also have rubber soles to give the user a sturdy grip. According to Bheemaiah, decorative sticks are becoming popular these days. “They are intricately made and look fashionable. I also provide sticks that provide support to the plants in a garden. Anyone who needs any kind of a stick, I deliver it.” What are his favourite sticks? “I always have a stick made from Rattan vine in my jeep – it’s like bamboo and very flexible. You can bend it and it will straight up.”
How does one look after a stick? “Don’t leave it in the sun for long periods of time as it will crack; store it in cool, shady spots. Oil it often but don’t soak it, and wipe the residue as it will become sticky,” advices Bheemaiah.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Ananya Revanna, Bengaluru / DHNS – April 02nd, 2015
Journalists and photojournalists from across the state on Sunday March 29 took time off from their hectic schedules to test their cricketing skills in the state-level tournament organized at General K S Thimmayya district sports ground here.
The team from Dakshina Kannada, which included Daijiworld’s ace photographer Dayanand Kukkaje, won the runner-up place, losing to Kolar team in the finals by 67 runs.
The tournament was organized under the aegies of Karnataka state working journalists’ association and Kodagu district working journalists’ association.
Dakshina Kannada team won the toss and put Kolar team to bat. Opening batsman Manjunath with 35 runs and Suresh with his undefeated knock of 103 (15 sixes) helped the team score 148 runs for the loss of two wickets within the stipulated ten overs. Suresh became the only batsman to have made a century.
Batting second, the Dakshina Kannada team could managed to score only 81 runs in 10 overs for the loss of three wickets. Manjunath Bhat scored 31 runs with two boundaries and two sixes. Arun scored 16 runs.
Manjunath Bhat of Dakshina Kannada team was declared the man of the series, while Suresh from Kolar was declared the man of the match for his century in the finals.
Udupi’s Raghavendra was adjudged the best bowler, Kolar’s Suresh the best batsman, Shivamogga’s Satish the best player.
In addition, Kolar’s Suresh won a prize for hitting the maximum number of sixes and Kodagu’s Vinay Hanagal won a prize for the best catch. Shivamogga team was declared the most disciplined team.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Top Stories / by DaijiWorld Media Network – Madikeri (EP) / Monday – March 30th, 2015
Indian captain Sardar Singh with P.R. Sreejesh. File photo / The Hindu
Ace midfielder Sardar Singh will lead a full strength Indian men’s hockey team in the 24th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia from April 5 to 12.
The Azlan Shah Cup despite being an invitational tournament, India have gone for a strong 18-member squad with just three changes from the last December’s Champions Trophy in Bhubaneswar.
Midfielder Danish Mujtaba, striker Lalit Upadhyay and defender Gurjinder Singh are the three players to miss out and in their places midfielder Chinglensana Singh and forwards Satbir Singh and Mandeep Singh have been drafted into the side.
While Sardar will captain the side, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh will continue to be his deputy.
Besides two goalkeepers — Sreejesh and Harjot Singh — the squad will have five defenders in Gurbaj Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Birendra Lakra, Kothajit Singh and V.R. Raghunath.
The midfield will be under the leadership of skillful Sardar and he will be assisted by Manpreet Singh, Dharamvir Singh, Chinglensana and S.K. Uthappa, while Ramadeep Singh, S.V. Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Satbir and Mandeep will form India’s forward line.
The Azlan Shah Cup will also be Dutchman Paul van Ass’ first assignment as the new chief coach of the Indian men’s hockey team.
“The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will be my first tournament as the coach of this team and I look forward to a positive start by doing well in this tournament,” Van Ass said after the selection of the team on Wednesday.
“The players and I are still trying to know each other both, professionally as well as on the personal front. By the intensity and efforts put in by these players on the field, during the preparations, gives me much confidence in this team and a hope to have a great start as one unit. I have seen them play in Champions Trophy last year and they are turning into a formidable line-up who are keen to take on new challenges.”
Talking about the Azlan Shah-bound team, captain Sardar said, “The team composition is almost the same as Champions Trophy, although we have three new inclusions — Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Satbir Singh and Mandeep Singh. All three will help boost our options for attack.
“I think their contribution for their respective teams in Hockey India League 2015 helped them make a comeback into the national squad.”
Besides India and hosts Malaysia, the other participating nations in this year’s Azlan Shah Cup are Australia, New Zealand, Korea and Canada.
India will play their first match against Korea on April 5 followed by games against New Zealand (April 6), Malaysia (April 8), Canada (April 9) and Australia (April 11).
Women from the rural areas of Kodlipet hobli near Shanivarasanthe, have achieved self reliance through dairy farming and have also produced significant quantity of milk.
The Nandipura Milk Producers Women’s Cooperative Society was established in 2008 by a couple of women in Kodlipet, with an intention to attain self reliance through farming activities in the rural areas.
Presently, Pramila Ravishankar, Chinnamma and Girija Girish are serving as president, vice president and secretary of the association, respectively. While Nirmala, Yashoda, Umavathi, Kavitha, Shashikala, Manjula and Jayamma are working as directors.
248 members
There are totally 248 members in the society who are engaged in dairy farming. Out of these, 75 members are from Kyathe, Neegunda, Chikkakundha and Kelakodli villages who regularly supply milk.
The milk is tested for its purity and everyday as much as 450 litres of milk is supplied to Kodige dairy.
Thirty HF cows have been provided to members, under Amritha scheme.
The association provides Rs 24 per litre to the members while Rs 4 is be provided by the Government as the subsidy.
Nandini self help group was established after Rs 75,000 subsidy from Karnataka Milk Federation. Interest free loans of Rs 5,000 is provided to 15 members.
When a member repays the loan, another member is be provided the loan. The members pay Rs 500 evey month towards the repayment.
The members said that the income that they earned from the dairy farming had made them self reliant and also helped them save some money after managing the household expenses.
The members also run Stree Shakthi and other self help groups.
25 dairies in Kodagu
“Kodagu district has 25 dairies. The district needs a separate milk union and a better price is to be ensured. Also, the time of the delivery of milk to the dairies needs to be revised,” said one of the Directors Nirmala.
Amidst comments that the dairy farming practices are dwindling in Kodagu, the Nandipura Milk Producers Union has carved a niche for itself, by being a role model to others.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Shanivarasanthe – DHNS, March 30th, 2015
Tata Coffee on Friday appointed Sanjiv Sarin as managing director and chief executive officer CEO of the company for a period of three years.
Mr Sarin is currently working as CEO designate and will replace Hameed Huq, currently managing director of the company. Mr Haq will retire on March 31.
“The Board of Directors at their meeting dated March 27, 2015 has appointed Sanjiv Sarin, the present ‘CEO Designate’ as Managing Director & CEO of the company for a period of three years with effect from April 25, 2015,” Tata Coffee said in a filing to the BSE.
In December last year, the company’s board had approved the appointment of Sanjiv Sarin as CEO designate with effect from January 8 this year.
Mr Sarin has also held the position of regional president-South Asia of Tata Global Beverages from the past four years.
During his tenure, he has significantly strengthened Tata Global Beverages’ position in the country’s branded tea market. He has over 38 years of experience in a variety of significant roles.
Tata Coffee is a subsidiary of Tata Global Beverages and it produces more than 10,000 tonnes of shade-grown Arabica and Robusta coffees at its 19 estates in South India.
Its two Instant Coffee manufacturing facilities have a combined installed capacity of 8,400 tonnes.
source: http://www.profit.ndtv.com / NDTV Profit / Home> Corporates / by Press Trust of India / March 27th, 2015
Company says it filed confidential prospectus for share sale on Wall Street.
Strauss Coffee accounts for about half the group’s total sales. Photo by Bloomberg
A long-awaited initial public offering on Wall Street of Strauss Coffee, a multinational joint venture controlled by Israel’s Strauss Group and the Texas-based private equity fund TPG Capital, is finally moving forward, Strauss Group said on Monday.
Strauss, a maker of snacks, fresh foods and coffee, said it had submitted a draft confidential prospectus to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “There is no certainty that the IPO will indeed be finalized, and if it is, on which date,” Strauss said in a statement. There were no other details.
Shares of Strauss Group closed up 5.6% at 61.90 shekels ($15.61) on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange on Monday.
The IPO comes seven years after TPG bought a 25% stake in Strauss Coffee for $293 million. Although Strauss Coffee grew through acquisitions to become the world’s fifth largest maker of ground and roasted coffee and No. 4 in instant coffee, the partnership has been stormy.
Strauss and TPG went to court after the U.S. fund sought to block Strauss’ ouster of Todd Morgan, the joint venture’s CEO and a former TPG employee. It lost the fight and Morgan was ousted early last year. The two also squabbled over fees that Strauss was charging the joint venture and disagreements over failed deals.
On Monday, Strauss Coffee reported 2014 net profit had fallen 13.6% to 265 million shekels ($66.756 million) as sales declined 3% to 3.8 billion shekels. The company paid out a huge dividend of 175 million shekels for the year, apparently in anticipation of the IPO.
A string of acquisitions and partnerships transformed Strauss Coffee into the No. 1 coffee seller in Brazil and the fourth-largest in the global retail coffee market and a market leader in Russia and in Central and Eastern European countries. In 2014, it accounted for almost half of Strauss Group’s total sales.
Nevertheless, Strauss Coffee didn’t develop as the two sides hoped it would when TPG bought its stake in 2008. That was just as world financial markets seized up and the world slipped into a deep recession, bringing merger and acquisition deals to a near halt.
Three years ago, TPG and Strauss tried to sell the coffee company’s Russian and Eastern European businesses in order to buy out TPG’s stake with the proceeds. After abortive talks with India’s Tata Coffee and Master Blenders, TPG urged an IPO.
That set off a dispute that ended up in court, along with the dispute over Morgan. Strauss contended that TPG sought to inflate Strauss Coffee’s value while TPG accused Strauss of deflating its value in order to block any chance of an IPO and buy out the private equity fund cheaply. The court dismissed TPG’s allegations.
Nevertheless, an IPO would enable TPG to reduce, if not divest, its Strauss Coffee stake. But The Wall Street Journal report a year ago said TPG valued its Strauss Coffee holding at just 10% more than it paid after holding it for nearly six years.
Meanwhile, Strauss Group, Israel’s second-largest food and beverage maker, reported Monday that it earned an adjusted 84 million shekels in the fourth quarter, up from 70 million shekels a year earlier, thanks to currency hedging transactions as well as lower tax expenses.
Sales edged up 0.3% to 2.08 billion shekels. Excluding the impact of changes in exchange rates, sales grew 2.8%. Coffee sales rose 2.4% to 1.03 billion shekels, led by a 4.8% increase in overseas coffee sales. Excluding currency effects, total coffee sales grew 9.4%.
source: http://www.haaretz.com / Haaretz / Home> Business> Israel News / by The Marker – March 24th, 2015
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