Category Archives: Business & Economy

PGCIL keen on completing Mysore-Kerala project

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

KodaguMapkf08mar2014
Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd., a Government of India enterprise, which is drawing the 400 KV D/C transmission line from Mysore to Kozhikode in Kerala via Kodagu district, has blamed certain non-governmental organisations of placing hurdles to the implementation of the project citing environmental reasons.

Of the 210-km transmission line, work has been completed in a stretch of 155-km (92 km in Kerala and 63 km in Karnataka). The balance 54.5-km line needs to be drawn in Kodagu, through 38 km of paddy fields and across 12 km of coffee plantations. Works covering a distance of 4.5 km in reserve forests in Kodagu has been completed. The Coorg Wildlife Society and Cauvery Sene have been opposing the project.

The apprehension created by the NGOs among the people over the project is unfounded, says S. Ravindar Kumar, Additional General Manager, PGCIL, who is in charge of the Karnataka projects. He told The Hindu that the project was entrusted to the PGCIL to evacuate power from Kaiga 3 and 4 nuclear plants, with the prior approval of the Union government. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests had given clearance for the lines in Kodagu.

As many as 2,450 trees were cut in Kodagu to draw the line across a stretch of 4.5 km reserve forests. An estimated 6,000 trees would have to be cut in the 12-km stretch of coffee plantations and about 300 in the 38-km stretch of paddy fields. However, the contention of the NGOs that over 50,000 trees would be felled to draw the line via Kodagu was far from the truth, Mr. Kumar said.

The PGCIL had commenced the Mysore-Kozhikode line works in December 2005, which was to have been completed in 2007. But, the Kodagu stretch has remained a bone of contention. It has also planned to earmark Rs. 60 crore for payment of compensation to farmers and has already deposited Rs. 10 crore in the Kodagu district treasury. Farmers could be paid Rs. 15 to Rs.18 lakh per acre as compensation in coffee plantations and Rs. 2 lakh per acre of paddy field, Mr. Kumar said.

The alternative routes suggested by the NGOs: utilising the 220 kV Kadakola-Kaniyampetta corridor (through the Bandipur National Park) would not be possible as it is the only inter-State feeder and de-energising it cannot be done since it is critical to meet the demands of north Kerala. The second alternative, that the existing D-line could be made use of (via Nagarahole National Park) was rejected by the State and Union governments.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by K. Jeevan Chinnappa / Bangalore – March 05th, 2014

Karnataka Fashion Week pays tribute to Coorg

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

Tribute to Coorg at Karnataka Fashion Week — the three-day event put together by fashion guru Prasad Bidapa. Entrepreneur Ashok Kheny inaugurated the second day of the fashion week, where Prasad, who was dressed in a traditional Coorg Kupiya, paid a tribute to Coorg and the book, The Vanishing Kodavas.

Fashion was of course in focus at the event, and the second day saw collections from Roopam Silks, Nimirta Lalvani, Abrar Ali, Ritu Pandey, Tahera Peeran, Manish Saksena, Anjali Sharma and a finale by Jamila and Seema Malhotra.

Also present the occasion were Charu Sharma and Nooraine Fazal from B.PAC.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Events> Bangalore / TNNn/ January 25th, 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

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

K J George promises development of Kodagu

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

District-in-Charge Minister K J George has said that he will make a honest effort to take up development works in the district. Speaking to mediapersons, he said that with the increase in crimes in Kushalnagar, a circular has been issued to set up Kushalnagar rural police station.
GeorgeKF20feb2014
He said that district administration has sought additional Rs 2 crore to take up 63 works related to drinking water, to mitigate shortage of water in villages. “I have appraised the CM to sanction Rs 100 crore special package to maintain roads in the district. Six kilometre road covering Kedaka-Horoor-Bhoothanakad will be re asphalted at a cost of Rs 50 lakh. Virajpet-Madikeri and Somwarpet-Madikeri road will be concreted,” he added.

“The government has sanctioned Rs eight crore to take up work on Balele-Nittur bridge. Rs 10 crore to construct a bridge across Lakshmanatheertha on Harihara-Balyamandoor. A sum of Rs 10 crore will be provided for the development of Jenukuruba and tribal colonies in the district. As form 9 and 11 while registering a property has been causing inconvenience, the Minister has been asked to drop the proposal,” George said.

He said that Revenue Minister has been asked to appoint a Special Tahsildar to Kushalnagar. Measures will be taken to lay 400 metre synthetic track and synthetic football ground in Madikeri. “The district administration has sought funds for the development of Gaddige park, Mallalli waterfalls and Rajaseat.”

Rules to be relaxed

In a separate meeting with the tribals, the minister said rules would be relaxed for tribal people in recruitment to police force. “Tribals and forest dwellers are leading a pathetic condition even after 67 years of independence. Rules regarding physical standards would be relaxed.”

The Minister said that he will discuss with Forest Minister on wages for mahouts working in Dubare forest. “Traditional dwellers should not be cleared. The department should come forward to provide basic facilities for the tribals residing on the periphery of the forest,” he said. He directed the officials to initiate measures to distribute 270 individual claims under Forest Rights Act.

Kudiyara Muthappa said that tribals who have been residing inside the forest are not ready to come to the mainstream of the society. Those tribals who have passed tenth standard should be provided job opportunity in police department.” Tribal leader J P Raju said “the government should purchase paisari land and distribute it among the poor.”
MLC T John, IGP Ramachandra Rao, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer P I Srividya, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiiwari among others were present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Madikeri – DHNS, February 11th, 2014

Bayar’s Coffee bags award

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

Bangalore :

Bayar’s Coffee, a gourmet coffee roaster, has bagged the Best Roasters Gold Award-2014 awarded by Coffee Board of India and India Coffee Trust.

“This award is in recognition of Bayer’s Coffee adopting food safety standards, implementation of new technology and use of high quality coffee beans in its blends,” said R Srikanth Rao, Director, Bayar’s Coffee.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Companies / The Hindu Bureau / Bangalore – February 05th, 2014

Coffee exports up 38% in Jan on strong global prices

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

Country ships 26,161 tonnes in Jan 2014, versus 18,979 tonnes a year ago

The country’s coffee exports rose 38 per cent to 26,161 tonnes in January on account of firm global prices, according to the Coffee Board of India.

The country had shipped 18,979 tonnes in the same month of the previous year, the data showed.

In value terms, exports rose to Rs 393.70 crore in January this year from Rs 304.70 crore in the year-ago period, even as unit realisation was down at Rs 1,50,496 per tonne.

“Exports remained high as global prices improved and have remained stable since last one month. International prices have gone up on expectation of lower crop in Brazil,” Board’s Chairman Jawaid Akhtar told PTI.

Currently, harvesting is underway in the country and normally small growers try to sell off their produce. This is also one of the key reasons for higher exports, he said.

Akhtar, who also heads International Coffee Organisation (ICO), said the production forecast for Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer, has been revised downward for this year to below 48 million bags from earlier 58 million bags.

With this development, arabica prices in the global market rose to around 130 cents per pound now from 110 cents per pound a month back, he added.

According to the latest Board data, shipment of robusta coffee rose over 90 per cent to 10,101 tonnes in January this year, from 5,306 tonnes a year ago.

Export of arabica coffee were up over 46 per cent to 9,200 tonnes from 6,290 tonnes in the review period. But export of instant coffee remained down at 6,838 tonnes as against 7,356 tonnes in the same period.

Maximum coffee was exported to Italy (5,675 tonnes), followed by Germany (2,621 tonnes), Belgium (2,109 tonnes), Jordan (1,674 tonnes), Turkey (1,646 tonnes) and Russian Federation (1,309 tonnes) in January 2014, the data showed.

During the April-January period of this fiscal, the country’s total coffee exports increased to 2,41,956 tonnes as against 2,25,570 tonnes in the year-ago period.

Currently, arabica harvesting is almost over in the country, while robusta picking is continuing.

The Board has pegged total output at 3,11,500 tonnes for 2013-14 crop year (October-September), down by 2.1 per cent from 3,18,200 tonnes produced in 2012-13.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Economy & Policy> News / by Press Trust of India / New Delhi – February 03rd, 2014

Allanasons is the best exporter of green coffee

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

Bangalore :
Allanasons Ltd has won the best green coffee exporter award instituted by the Coffee Board. The company bagged the award for exporting the highest volume of coffee in 2012-13.

NKG Jayanti Coffee was second, followed by Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Company Ltd. At the IICF, Coffee Board honoured individuals and institutions for setting high standards and benchmarks in the world of coffee.

The following are the other category winners: In the speciality coffee segment – Aspinwall & Company topped the list, followed by Allanasons Ltd and NKG Jayanti Coffee.

Instant coffee category: CCL Products, followed by Tata Coffee and Nestle India. Roasted coffee beans and ground coffee: Jay Keshav Exports, Rams Exim and Fresh and Honest Cafe.

NKG Jayanti Coffee won the award for the best exporter to Europe. The company bagged the award for exporting the maximum amount of coffee to Europe in 2012-13. Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Company Ltd and Allanasons Ltd came second and third.

Following are the best exporters of coffee to the different regions: US & Canada: CCL Products, Allanasons Ltd and Mudremane Coffee Curers.

Russia &CIS: CCL Products, Tata Coffee and Nestle India. West Asia and North Africa (Mena): Allanasons Ltd, Nestle India and Bola Surendra Kamath & Sons. Far-East: Sri Narasu’s Coffee Company, Vayhan Coffee and Tata Coffee.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Companies / by The Hindu Bureau / Bangalore – January 24th, 2014