Category Archives: World Opinion

Coffee board to promote coffee-tourism under Incredible India campaign

January 24, 2016Business & Economy, Coffee News, World Opinionadmin

The sixth edition of India international coffee festival 2016, programmed for three days, concluded this Saturday.

More than 60 companies are exhibited at the Coffee Expo, drawing visitors from across the globe (Photo: Pixabay)

Mumbai:

In order to boost tourism industry with the coffee sector, the central government has allowed the coffee board of India to promote coffee-tourism under flagship of Incredible India programme.

The coffee board chairman Leela Nair said that, following the Karnataka module of Coffee tourism, Ministry of tourism from the current financial year has allowed board to promote tourism with coffee industry. However, due to the delay in request from our side, government couldn’t fund us but has asked to kick-start it under incredible India programme, she added.

In this regard, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Chief Secretary, Rita Teaotia, who was the guest speaker, said “When you talk about coffee tourism, you provide great experience for the tourists which is also environmentally beautiful”.

Teaotia added that this would also boost the start-up in the country to partner with the existing plantations and take an advantage of this open market. She urged the young entrepreneurs of India to see coffee as the emerging markets for start-up, which has enormous opportunities.

Further speaking on the coffee tourism, President of India coffee trust, Anil Kumar Bhandari pointed out that more than international tourists, there has been steep increase in the domestic tourists from last five years.

Quoting about the start-up opportunities in coffee sector, Chief Secretary Rita Teaoita said, “If you look at the coffee industry which has number of small plantation sectors could be turned has an opportunity because you make niche product, niche branding and target and a niche market.”

Secondly, India being traditionally south states coffee-drinking area has started looking into the branding and also spreading it into the north India market the Barista and Starbucks, with this chain, somebody with well-placed product can also turned into great opportunity for start-ups, Teaoita mentioned.

“Third is, we do have specific coffee varieties coming in from different region and branding and marketing of those could turn great opportunities for the start-ups to spread”, she added.

The sixth edition of India international coffee festival 2016 that was programmed for three days, concluded on Saturday with guest speaker Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Chief Secretary, Rita Teaotia’s address on start up India campaign in coffee industry.

The festival comprises of an International Conference Exhibition for all things coffee, skill-building workshops, product launches, coffee quiz, coffee awards, and a host of other exciting activities.

The festival also served as a platform for many coffee growers, roasters, retailers, equipment suppliers, researchers and entrepreneurs. This year the festival saw as many as 500 delegates for the conference and skill building workshops.

More than 60 companies are exhibited at the Coffee Expo, drawing visitors from across the globe.

Leading brands like Hindustan UniLever, Tata Coffee, Nestle, Leo Coffee, Buhler, Kaapi Machines MK Associates, Swiss Pack, Bunn-O-Matic, Diedrich, CMA, Probat, YARA India, Rabo Bank, Eltex marketing Services, Controlmatic, etc., are exhibiting at the event.

Start-ups have completely transformed the way India consumes their Coffee be it Coffee delivery or E-commerce or Cafés or Roast & Ground Coffee sellers. IICF also played a large focus on these Start-ups.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Business, In other news / by Vaibhav G. Bhansode, Deccan Chronicle / January 24th, 2016

Hollande to witness coffee making in State’s tableau

January 10, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Coffee News, World Opinionadmin

A miniature of the State’s tableau on the theme ‘Kodagu: the coffee heaven of Karnataka’ for the Republic Day parade. The French President, Francois Hollande, will be the chief guest at this year’s parade.

The French President will be the chief guest at this year’s R-Day parade

French President Francois Hollande, who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, will witness the various stages of coffee making in Karnataka’s tableau.

The State’s tableau this year is on the theme: Kodagu: the coffee heaven of Karnataka. It will depict various stages in the making of coffee, starting from women plucking the beans to processing them and the processed powder being finally turned into the aromatic brew. The tableau depicts Kodava women, wearing their distinctive dress, performing their traditional dance.

Folklorist H.L. Nage Gowda’s book Bettadinda Battalige (From the hills to the cup), on the coffee’s origin, is the basis for the tableau.

Shashidhara Adapa, who designed the tableau, said the work on it has commenced both in Bengaluru and New Delhi. Two sets of artists are working on creating sculptures and fabricating the tableau. “Steam emanating from a cup of coffee will be visible to the audience,” he said. The signature music will be by Praveen D. Rao.

It is for the sixth consecutive time that Karnataka is participating in the parade. Back in 2005, its tableau on the theme of Gomateshwara had bagged the first prize. In the subsequent years, the State showcased Mysuru Dasara, followed by Hoysala and Pattadkal architecture.

According to N. Vishu Kumar, Director of the Department of Information, the selection process is rigorous. “Only the best are chosen,” he said. Getting an opportunity to represent the State at the parade is an achievement in itself, he added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / Muralidhara Khajane / Bengaluru – January 09th, 2016

‘Indian coffee doing well internationally’

January 9, 2016Business & Economy, Coffee News, World Opinionadmin

Coffee production in the country this year could reach close to three lakh metric tonnes. Production in Karnataka, the country’s largest coffee producer, would also be better compared to the last few years, said former Coffee Board Chairman Javed Akhtar.

Speaking at the India Coffee Awards Ceremony, organised by Coffee Board on Thursday, he said that the scheme to expand Indian coffee internationally was extremely successful and Indian exporters are hugely respected. The export of this bean has also registered a marked increase, consistently touching three metric tonnes annually in the last few years, he added. Coffee Board Chairman Leena Nair said that 128 entities were actively exporting coffee in 2013-2014 to more than 100 countries with earnings close to Rs. 4,594 crore.

Andhra Pradesh is also gearing up to become a serious coffee producing State, another former Chairman G.V. Krishna Rau pointed out.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / Staff Reporter / Bengaluru – January 08th, 2016

10 things to know about Ashwini Ponappa

January 1, 2016Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports, World Opinionadmin

Ahead of the Premier Badminton League, here’s your guide to one of India’s best shuttlers.

Ashwini Ponappa is one of the most talented badminton players in India

Indian badminton doubles star Ashwini Ponappa has already seen several memorable moments during the course of her career. Her successful partnership with Jwala Gutta in the doubles has brought India many laurels and they continue to be the pair on which the country’s doubles hopes are pinned on.

After first bursting on to the scene as an 18-year-old in 2007, Ponappa has made steady if not rapid strides in her career, and with Gutta will be a key component if India are to excel in the sport in Rio 2016.

Here are 10 things to know about the badminton ace:

1) Ashwini Ponnappa was born on the 18th of September, 1989 in Coorg, Karnataka. Her father was a national hockey player. However, she preferred badminton over hockey and started training in the sport.

2) She completed her schooling at St. Francis Xavier’s Girl’s High School in Bengaluru and moved to Hyderabad to pursue her bachelors degree.

3) Ponappa shot to fame when she won the Indian junior championships in 2001, as a 12-year old and then five years later, clinched the Gold at the South Asian Games to impress many an expert and supporter.

4) At the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, she partnered Jwala Gutta to the Gold in the Women’s Doubles, with the two thereby becoming the first Indian pair to win a medal in that category at the event. Ponappa was also part of the team that won a silver in the Mixed Team event at the Games.

5) In 2011, Ponappa and Gutta came up with one of their finest performances when they won a bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships in Copenhagen, thereby becoming Indian doubles pair and only the second after Prakash Padukone(1983), to stand on the podium at the marquee event.

6) In 2012 Olympics, Ashwini-Jwala pair narrowly missed out on a quarterfinal berth by a difference of just one point, thus denying them a medal

7 ) In June 2015, Ashwini-Jwala pair won the Canada Open women’s doubles title by defeating the top-seeded Dutch pair of Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek. It was the pair’s first and only title in the year.

8) 2014 turned out to be a fruitful year for the duo as they won the silver medal in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and followed that up with Bronze medals in the Asian Games in Incheon and the Uber Cup in New Delhi.

9) Ponappa played for the Pune Pistons in the inaugural edition of the Indian Badminton League. In 2015, Bengaluru Top Guns chose her to represent their franchise in the Premier Badminton League(PBL).

10) The 26-year old is an animal lover and loves listening to music in her spare time.

source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / Sports Keeda.com / Home> Badminton / Premier Badminton League – Analysis / by Rohan Nagaraj / December 30th, 2015

Joshna Chinappa became India’s highest-ranked player in 2015

December 16, 2015Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports, World Opinionadmin

Joshna wants to capitalise on her form as she aims to do better in the upcoming season. (TOI Photo)

New Delhi :

Joshna Chinappa overtook Dipika Pallikal to become India’s highest-ranked player while off the court N Ramachandran’s role as the boss of the world governing body was questioned in what turned out to be a memorable year for Indian and world squash.

Ramachandran faced a lot of heat, both as president of the World Squash Federation (WSF) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), coinciding with his brother N Srinivasan’s ouster from the International Cricket Council.

(PSA) went to the extent of calling Ramachandran an “embarrassment” to the sport for leading WSF to another failed Olympic bid. Back home in India, selected member federations wanted him removed as the IOA chief but he managed to weather the storm.

______________________________________________________________
HIGHLIGHTS
• The start of the year saw the merger of male professional body PSA and its women’s counterpart WSA.
• Joshna had the most fruitful time among country’s three torch-bearers including Dipika and Saurav Ghosal.
• Ramachandran faced a lot of heat, both as president of the WSF and IOA.
________________________________________________________________

The start of the year also saw the merger of male professional body PSA and its women’s counterpart WSA.

On the court, Joshna had the most fruitful time among country’s three torch-bearers including Dipika and Saurav Ghosal.

The highlight of her season undoubtedly was getting the better of world number one Raneem El Welily in the opening round of Qatar Classic. A couple of USD 15,000 titles in Melbourne and Mumbai along with a semifinal finish at the USD 50,000 Carol Weymuller Open in New York eventually helped her reach a career-high rank of 13, a jump of nine places since December 2014.

It is the first time in five years that the 29-year-old finished the season ahead of Pallikal, who held on to the 16th spot of December last year despite playing less events owing to a month’s break she took for her wedding in August.

Joshna wants to capitalise on her form as she aims to do better in the upcoming season.

“It has been a good year but I don’t want to stop here. I believe I can push myself. Obviously the aim is to get better, break into the top 10 and then top five. I don’t want to think that I am at the peak of my game. I am 29 and as squash history points out, a lot of players peak post 30. So I am going to keep doing what I am doing, work hard and train hard for the upcoming season,” Joshna told PTI.

For her longtime teammate Dipika, it was an unforgettable year off the court as she tied the knot with cricketer Dinesh Karthik. On the squash court, she did not have a great time by her standards.

“It was not a great year for me to be honest. I did not play as well as I could have. The positive is that I have not lost a lot of ground in the rankings and hopefully I can get back into the top-10 with consistent performances next year,” Dipika said.

The 29-year-old, who ended the year as world number 18 after beginning at 24, reached four finals with the high point being his runner-up effort in Colombia. He was expected to win the summit clash against local qualifier Alfredo Avila after surprising fifth-ranked Miguel Rodriguez in the last four.

His other two wins against a top-10 player came against Tarkek Momen.
“It was a decent year for me. I reached four finals and won one though I should have done more than that. Next season will be about climbing up the rankings ladder, getting more wins against top-10 players,” said Ghosal, who injured his foot in Hong Kong earlier in the month.

He is undergoing recovery at home and therefore will be missing the Tournament of Champions to be held in New York from January 7.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Sports> More Sports / PTI / December 16th, 2015

Tata Global launches instant coffee brand to compete with Nescafe, Bru

December 2, 2015Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), World Opinionadmin

Tata Coffee Grand was jointly developed by Tata Global Beverages and group firm Tata Coffee , which manufactures the product, TGBL said.

Mumbai :

India’s second largest tea maker Tata Global Beverages has forayed into instant coffee business in the country by launching Tata Coffee Grand, which will compete with Nestle’s Nescafe and Hindustan Unilever’s Bru.

The instant coffee brand was jointly developed by Tata Global Beverages (TGBL) and group firm Tata Coffee, which manufactures the product, TGBL said on Monday.

The coffee beans will be primarily sourced from Tata Coffee’s plantations in South India, popular for producing Arabica and Robusta blends.

At present, the maker of Tata Tea and Tetley brands earns over 70% of its sales from tea brands while coffee business accounts for 20% through brands like Eight o’clock and Grand outside India.

source: http://www.retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com / ETRetail.com / Home> Food & Entertainment / ET Bureau / November 30th, 2015

Saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa on his East-West musical fusion project

November 26, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Nri's / Pio's, World Opinionadmin

Saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa performs at NYUAD on Tuesday November 24. Photo by Jimmy Katz

“The reality is, there’s plenty of East-West musical projects that are horrible,” says Rudresh Mahanthappa, expressing a sentiment open-minded listeners of global sounds are often afraid to voice.

The New York City saxophonist is introducing his own East-West musical fusion, Gamak, who he leads in a performance at New York University Abu Dhabi on Tuesday November 24.

The ensemble’s music is anything but horrible – although it is demanding.

A fiery, phenomenal improviser who was once crowned Alto Saxophonist of the Year by leading jazz magazine DownBeat, Mahanthappa’s playing is exhaustingly inventive.

Backed by a rock-influenced rhythmic section of drums, bass and electric guitar, his sax spits spiralling, jagged phrases that skirt scales drawn from both sides of the globe.

The Gamak project – realised on the 2012 album of the same name – is the latest step in the 44-year-old Indian-American’s exploration of Indian classical music.

This began during his studies at leading jazz school Berklee College of Music a quarter of a century ago, and culminated with a Guggenheim Fellowship to study Carnatic music, resulting in the ensemble Samdhi in 2011.

“Exploring Indian music was something that came out of that early-adulthood confusion – trying to understand to what degree I was American and to what degree I was Indian, and how these things can occur simultaneously, in concert, as opposed to in conflict,” he says.

Gamak is named after the term for South Indian melodic ornamentation, but Mahanthappa’s playing also seeks to examine how tunes are traditionally embellished by players of Chinese, African and Indonesian music.

“The way melody is decorated is what gives it the human quality,” he explains. “I was always fascinated by this very specific, almost-science of how this melodic ornamentation occurs. It’s not random at all, it’s very stylised. People always say: ‘You shouldn’t play the melody straight, you have to give some life to it’. Well, that’s all well and good, but how about making a larger conversation about what that actually means, and exploring how it occurs in different parts of the world.”

Mahanthappa changed direction on this year’s Bird Calls, a set of new compositions each inspired by a specific solo or tune by the alto legend Charlie Parker.

For this 16th release, the restless spirit is contemplating either recording music from children’s TV shows from around the globe, collaborating with a comedian and live video artists on a politically-motivated performance piece, or recording a collection of Michael Brecker compositions that the late, great saxophonist never had the chance to record in his lifetime.

“It’s all part of one big journey,” says Mahanthappa. “I still say: ‘I’m a professional musician’. I make albums and tour and perform and do all these things, but sometimes I think the music is just a by-product of me continuing to get myself, to understand who I am as a citizen of the world.”

• Rudresh Mahanthappa and Gamak perform at East Plaza, The Arts Centre, at NYUAD on Tuesday November 24 at 8pm. Limited free tickets available on arrival or from nyuad-artscenter.org

rgarratt@thenational.ae

source: http://www.thenational.ae / The National / Home> Arts & Life> Music / by Rob Garatt / November 23rd, 2015

It’s been a fantastic year, says Bopanna

November 26, 2015Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports, World Opinionadmin

London :

Following their loss in the title round of the year-ending $7 million ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena here, top Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna has said 2015 has been a fantastic year for him and his men’s doubles partner Florin Mergea of Romania.

Second seeds Horia Tecau and Jean-Julien Rojer defeated eighth seeds Bopanna and Mergea 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday evening for their 11th team title, and third of the year that includes their maiden Grand Slam at Wimbledon.

“It was just a tough day today. But it’s been a great week, making it to the final, first-time outing for us as a team,” said the 35-year-old Bopanna after the loss.

“And for the season, starting out in April, playing just about a handful of tournaments and to qualify here, I think it’s been a fantastic year for us. We can take a lot of positives from this year, and we are looking forward to starting fresh in January.”

Bopanna and Mergea first teamed up at Casablanca in April and end the year with a 31-16 record, including two titles from four finals. Mergea added: “It’s a pleasure to play in the World Tour Finals title match. Obviously, this has been the first time two Romanians (Tecau being the other) played the doubles final here. I think it’s an historic day for us.”

Bopanna ends the year as World No.9, having won four titles — two with Mergea in Madrid and Stuttgart and two with Daniel Nestor in Dubai and Sydney, making 2015 the most successful season of his career.

source: http://www.punemirror.in / PuneMirror.in / Home> Sports> Others / Agencies / November 24th, 2015

World’s First Barefoot Marathon in Kodagu next month

November 16, 2015Records, All, Sports, World Opinionadmin

Mysuru :

The world’s first barefoot marathon will be held in Kodagu on Dec. 5 and 6.

Melinda Soman, who recently completed the ‘Iron Man’ event will also take part in the marathon organised by Coorg Wellness Foundation.

This maiden run is expected to evolve into an annual event and is dedicated to conservation and well-being of environment and all its inhabitants in partnership with Coorg Wildlife Society.

The event includes the Barefoot mile; Tribal 10 kilometre run, Barefoot 21 kilometre run and the full marathon Barefoot 42 kilometre run.

Barefoot running enthusiasts may register at www.barefootmarathon.com or www.coorgwellnessfoundation.com. They can also contact: Nikki on Mob: 9845559452.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Monday – November 16th, 2015

Oman Club to host Hockey Extravaganza

November 12, 2015Sports, World Opinionadmin

Oman Club will host a two-day exhibition hockey competition, which will be played over the coming weekend.

The event is being held by the club to mark the 45th National Day. The competition will feature senior and U15 sections. Those who are interested to register teams can contact Nader al Raisi (99626297).

Teams: senior: Oman Club, Bausher, Ahli-Sidab, Seeb, Oman Veterans, Team Coorg A, Team Coorg B, Muscat Arabian Foxes.

Junior: Oman Club, Bausher, Seeb, Indian School al Seeb, Indian School Muscat.

source: http://www.muscatdaily.com / Muscat Daily.com / Home> Oman / November 11th, 2015

Kodagu First

a Celebration. Positive News, Facts & Achievements about Kodagu, Coorgs and the People of Kodagu – here at Home and Overseas