Category Archives: Agriculture

Tree Lovers Club Plants 700 Saplings At Vijayanagar

July 14, 2018Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Natureadmin

Urban greening initiative…

Mysuru:

The newly-floated Tree Lovers Club, Vijayanagar, planted around 700 saplings including fruit-bearing indigenous trees in Vijayanagar 3rd Stage on Sunday last.

The Club, an offshoot of Vekare Ex-Servicemen Trust (VKET), will take up urban greening and promote it by example and through public campaigns.

Speaking to SOM, VKET and Tree Lovers Club President Mandetira N. Subramani said that it is the responsibility of every citizen to take care of the ecology and environment around their neighbourhood, first by planting a couple of fruit-bearing saplings in places wherever it is feasible. Subsequently, it should be the individual’s responsibility to nurture them after their maintenance for five years till they grow at least 15 feet in height.

He said, it is the collective responsibility of the residents and NGOs to take the initiative to impress upon the Forest Department to plant more saplings.

He further mentioned that the Tree Lovers Club will accomplish its mission of apprising the Chief Conservator of Forests in Mysuru to plant over 5,000 different species of saplings including fruit-bearing trees in Vijayanagar 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Stages.

Vice-President Shakunthala Subramani, Gen. Secretary A.B. Bojappa, Jt. Secretary Poornima Raghu, Treasurer S. Somashekara and Hon. Advisor P.S. Bose Subramani led the morning walkers and residents of Vijayanagar 3rd Stage, numbering over 150, in planting the saplings.

Addressing the gathering after planting over 25 fruit-bearing trees in the Park opposite Heritage Club, the Tree Lovers Club President thanked the participants, members of Brahmagiri Kodava Association and Heritage Club for giving moral support to the Club in accomplishing the greening initiative. Tree Lovers Club intends to adopt the Park in Vijayanagar 3rd Stage for development and maintenance after obtaining the consent of authorities concerned.

Speaking on the occasion, A.B. Bojappa said that the Club would form a Committee of Tree Lovers to look after the saplings already planted in Vijayanagar 3rd Stage in the past one week.

The Secretary also requested those present to give their suggestions to improve the ecology of Vijayanagar 3rd Stage via e-mail: tree.lovers@yahoo.com or infowicket@gmail.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / July 10th, 2018

Mulled and brewed at home

July 11, 2018Agriculture, Business & Economy, Natureadmin

Bottled Goodness

It is common to think of grapes when we talk about wines. But women of Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu and Hassan districts have shown that there’s more to wine than just grapes. Here, wine is made from a wide range of locally grown fruits and spices like jamun, ginger, pepper, betel leaf, gooseberry, orange, cashew apple, rice, banana, coffee, etc. These wines, traditionally mulled and brewed in the coffee estates of the State, are being perfected to be sold in domestic and international markets. Women entrepreneurs, who are at the helm of winemaking, ferment different flavours of wines as well.

In these districts, it is a custom to serve a cup of freshly brewed coffee to guests. In addition to coffee, homemade wine is now offered as a welcome drink at weddings and other joyous gatherings. It is also presented as a gift to relatives and friends. Not just that, it has become a good addition to the various products that travellers look for in these places.

Wine heritage

Amongst the three districts, Kodagu holds a prominent place as the producer of wine. The district has a uniformly distributed wet climate. The British have left their cultural footprints here, which reflects in the culture and lifestyle of the Kodavas. The wine has historically been a part of the Kodava diet and heritage and has been bettered through generations.

With the tourism sector experiencing a steady growth in the district, more than 1,000 women are now engaged in winemaking. While many of them brew for home consumption, the number of women taking it up as an income-generating activity is also on the rise. Winemakers say that since they produce wine in small quantities, they don’t have to register with the Wine Board.

Wine is made throughout the year and the ingredients change with the season. This art of perfecting homemade wine has seen higher success rates with the involvement of self-help groups. One such group is Rajarajeshwari Self-Help Group(RSHG) established by the women of Kargunda village in Madikeri taluk. For the past 16 years, the members of this group have been selecting the best quality fruits grown in their coffee plantations and blending them with various other locally sourced ingredients to make homemade wine.

RSHG is one of the first such groups to be formed by the Coffee Board of India. With 18 women entrepreneurs in its fold, two women work every day to ensure continuous production. “The health benefits of these wines are significant. For instance, black plum has positive effects on controlling diabetes and ginger has several medicinal effects,” says Jarina Uthappa, president of RSHG. Members Saroja Kalappa, Girija Chermanna and Gowramma Kaverappa say that over the years, there is an increase in tourist footfall to their shop, which is located on the route from Madikeri to Bhagamandala. And, many consider this outlet as a must-stop place for tourists.

The process

Sugar and the fruit of choice are added to boiled water and stirred at regular intervals for a period of five days. Then it is kept for 25 days, after which the fruit and sugar mixture is filtered into a bottle without any traces of the pulp being mixed. In order to separate the pulp from the liquid, Muslin cloth is used in the filtration process.

Only good quality fruits are used in winemaking. They do not use alcohol, yeast or any other form of preservatives during preparation. Of late, sugarless wine is also prepared. Customers can buy their products after tasting samples. The wine wine has a shelf life of up to two years. However, due to the natural process of fermentation, as years go by, the wine acquires five to 10% of alcohol content in it. It is safe to consume wine up to 60 ml after which it leads to intoxication. They sell about 150 to 200 bottles in a month and one bottle costs Rs 200.

Another successful self-help group, Coorg Wine Association(CWA) in Suntikoppa, is also a known name in wine production. Manu, a member, states that Kodavas have a cultural association with wine and it is seen as an energy drink here. At CWA, the process of fermentation is carried on for 90 days. Along with fruits, they also use pudina(mint), Bermuda grass and mulberry. At CWA, the filtration process takes place after 50 days and the wine is sold at Rs 250 to 300 per bottle.

Distinctive methods

Though the wine culture is not as widespread as Kodagu, the concept of homemade wine is catching up in Chikkamagaluru and Hassan districts, mainly because of the demand created by the tourists. “It has also become a source of regular income for women entrepreneurs,” states winemaker Divya Uday of Kitthagalale estate in Sakaleshpura.

Every winemaker follows a distinct method and even the ingredients vary. For one kilogram of fruit, Divya Uday adds one handful of rice, wheat flour, cloves, cinnamon, a pinch of yeast and little black pepper. The wine is sold at homestays in and around Sakaleshpura. She adds that beauty parlours are now placing orders for grape wine, which is used in facial cleansing.

I then interacted with two innovative entrepreneurs, Geeta Sunil and Sumitha Raghudev, in Chikkamagaluru. They have created a niche for themselves in the field with a wide variety of wines such as cashew wine, rose wine, passion fruit wine, pomegranate wine, pineapple wine and betel leaf wine. They have been supplying these unique flavours to homestays located in the region.

Bhagya Lakshman, an experienced winemaker in Mudigere taluk, remembers that in her childhood, after a day of hard labour, to de-stress from the physical and mental strain endured, people used to consume a primitive form of wine before dinner. The ingredients were mainly fruits and berries picked from surrounding community forests and plantations. The fruits were blended with jaggery, sprouts, ginger, black pepper and rice.

Over the years, there has been a lot of changes in the preparation and consumption practices, reflecting the evolution of customs, traditions and culture. And the change is for the better, she feels. She says that many Ayurvedic practitioners recommend consumption of one spoon of betel leaf wine or ginger wine on a daily basis to maintain good health.

It is very fashionable these days to serve wine as a welcome drink in the social gatherings that women organise. It is always served in limited quantities. Wine must always be stored in glass bottles and must never be refrigerated. Wine, when preserved for more than seven years, gives the same intoxicating feeling as whiskey.

So, when you visit this part of the State next time, don’t forget to try these fruity flavours.

source: http://www.deccanheral.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Spectrum> Spectrum Top Stories / by Poornima Kanahalli / July 07th, 2018

It’s Honey Calling

July 2, 2018Agriculture, Business & Economy, Natureadmin

Madikeri:

Any talk of Kodagu often begins with the aromatic coffee, golden-glazed honey and some lip-smacking authentic delicacies. Honey has a special place in the district and Kodagu is known to produce distinct and rich honey that is famous for its originality, purity, taste and longevity even when stored in closed containers for years together.

However, the district hit a low in honey production in the 1990s as Thai Sac Brood disease hit the industry hard. Said to have originated in Thailand, the disease killed bees, including the queen bee and so far there has been no effective remedy for the disease. Also, the red ant menace further crippled the industry and most of the apiculturists were forced to switch to other means of livelihood. So badly affected was the industry that the honey production in Kodagu has dipped to a low of 50 percent in the late 1990s.

Now slowly the industry is regaining foothold and thanks to people who are growing conscious about their health and healthy habits, there is a global market for Coorg Honey. Honey is produced mainly in Bhagamandala, Galibeedu and Cherangala of Madikeri taluk, Birunani, T. Shettigeri and Kedamulloor in Virajpet taluk, Shanthalli, Jakkanalli, Soorlabbi, Hammiyala, Hachchinadu, Kumbaragadige and Mutlu in Somwarpet taluk.

At present, Kodagu has over 7,000 bee-keepers and Bhagamandala region alone accounts for more than 50 percent of production of the district with the total being about 850 tonnes.

To bring back the glory of honey production in Kodagu, the State government has set up a Honey Park in Bhagamandala where the only Apiculture Technical Training Centre of State is located. The Park also houses a Honey Museum. The Park and the Museum are the first in the State.

Honey extractors, beehives, honey containers, honey pots on display at the Honey Museum.

Built at a cost of Rs. 1.42 crore, works on the Honey Park began in 2015 and is completed now. The Park is housed at Apiculture Technical Training Centre that was established at Bhagamandala way back in 1948 by the then Coorg State Government. Funds for the Honey Park was released by the State Horticulture Department and initially in 2015-2016, Rs. 50 lakh was released. Later, in 2016-2017, Rs. 82 lakh was released and Rs. 10 lakh was released in 2017-2018.

A honeycomb kept for demonstration at the Honey Park.

The Honey Park acts as a comprehensive centre for honey production and related activities. It would also endeavour to provide marketing facilities for the product in the entire State. The Park is being maintained by food processing division of Agriculture Department. The Park has been set up to promote apiculture, which will supplement the income of the farmers.

According to officials managing the Honey Park, they get regular visitors who want to know about honey production, the costs and apiculture procedure.

Certificate course

“We will provide a three-month certificate course during November-December-January for students and professionals who want to take up apiculture as a part-time business,” they said. Hostel facilities will be provided to the trainees during their three-month stay at Bhagamandala and already many students from Mysuru, Belagaavi, Koppal and Dharwad have enrolled for the training programme.

This apart, the Honey Museum traces the history of honey in Kodagu, its origin, golden period, its gradual decline owing to diseases and the present state. Also, it gives the visitors information about global honey growth and how it has become popular among health freaks. Models have been prepared and ways and means of honey extraction with machines and bare hands without getting bitten or stung by bees are demonstrated here.

A short movie screening is another attraction in the Honey Park. It captures the honey development in Kodagu. The centre will train local tribals and farmers in apiculture. Tribals will be trained in collecting honey in forests. This in turn will help in improving their economic conditions.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles> News / June 30th, 2018

Coffee sector seeks govt support for re-plantation

June 28, 2018Agriculture, Coffee News, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, Alladmin

City: Chennai

With a large majority of coffee plantations having turned old and unproductive, coffee sector is seeking a Colombian-model re-plantation support from the government.

Abysmally low yield, lower price realisation and high levels of debt have been restraining the sector from taking up re-plantation on its own.

Re-plantation is long overdue for 65-70 per cent of India’s coffee farms. About 65 per cent of plants are more than 40 years old and for those varieties, the maximum yielding age of the plants is 35-40 years. Some of the better-yielding newer varieties have a shorter life of around 25 years and a good number of these newer varieties are also due for re-plantation, said AL RN Nagappan, coffee committee chairman of UPASI.

By retaining the older plants, both production and yield has been coming down. Coffee production, especially arabica production has been falling year-after-year in the past five years. From 120,000 tonnes, it has dropped below 90,000 tonnes.

The yield too is abysmally low. “We cannot even compare our yield with that of Brazil or Colombia. If an acre of coffee plantation provides 1.5 tonnes of coffee in Brazil, it would hardly produce 300 kg in India,’ said Nagappan. Inability to mechanise the plantations due to the hilly and rocky terrain also has been affecting the yield. According to Ramesh Rajah, president of the Coffee Exporters Association, coffee growers in the India are not in a position to take up the task of such large-scale re-plantation as most of the growers are incurring losses due to lesser price realisation and higher input cost.

“If the input cost on an acre is around Rs 70,000, the income would be around Rs 40,000 to Rs 45,000. The grower is incurring a loss of around Rs 30,000 on an acre of coffee plantation,” said Boje Gowda, chairman, Coffee Board of India.

The growers have been relying on the pepper vines to make up for the losses. “But the pepper prices too are down this year,’ added Nagappan.

According Gowda, almost 80 per cent of the growers have defaulted on their loans and the non-performing assets of the coffee plantation have become a burden for the banks.

In such a scenario, the sector is looking forward for support from the part of the central and state governments. “The government should take a leaf out of the re-plantation scheme being provided for growers in Columbia. The government has been providing financial support for the past few years and now the country has been able to enhance its production significantly,” said Rajah.

Since 2009, Colombia has been replanting around 85,000 hectares of coffee plantations every year. The government has been providing subsidy for the every replanted coffee.

“We have been requesting both central and state government to provide subsidies on the inputs like fertilizer electricity and machines,’ said Gowda.

As the grower has to forego the income during re-plantation, he also wants financial support during that critical period. “We are also expecting an interest waiver for the loans so that the growers can pay back at least the principal,” said Nagappan.

source: http://www.mydigitalfc.com / mydigitalfc.com / Home> Miscellany / by Sangeetha G

Demand for crabs, bamboo shoots rises in Madikeri

June 26, 2018Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Natureadmin

Crabs kept for sale beside a road in Madikeri.

It is the time of the year when people in Madikeri throng to purchase crabs and bamboo shoots.

Crabs, bamboo shoots and “Marakesu” have already entered markets in the district.

People consider crab as good for generating heat in the body which helps in braving the chill during monsoon.

The crab sellers collect 30kg to 40kg of crabs from H D Kote, Bheemanahalli and come to Madikeri to sell them. A bundle of crab (12 crabs) are priced at Rs 300. Crab fetches Rs 250 per kg.

In the past, crabs were available in plenty in paddy fields and water bodies. Now in spite of an increase in demand, there are a few people who sell it.

The availability of crabs has also declined, said crab seller Kumar.

Even the tourists who come here during weekends purchase bamboo shoots while returning home. The bamboo shoot is sold for Rs 40 to Rs 50 for half a kg.

The demand for “Marakesu” leaves also increases during the monsoon. The leaves are used for the preparation of “pathrode” and “bajji.”

The monsoon delicacies are served not only at home but at homestays and resorts as well.

There is a good demand for crab curry, crab fry, bamboo shoot pickle and bamboo shoot dry curry, said homestay owner Suyog.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> District / by DH News Service , Madikeri / June 24th, 2018

Rampant land conversion in Kodagu leads to reduced flow of water in Cauvery

June 17, 2018About Kodagu / Coorg, Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

Kodagu district is the major watershed and catchment for the Cauvery and has witnessed rampant conversion of not just forest land but also wetlands and coffee plantations.

Water flowing from a dam across the Cauvery river. (File | EPS)

Bengaluru :

With 2,800 acres of land converted for commercial purposes in the last decade in Kodagu district, environmentalists decry the continuing change in land use and say it has decreased the annual flow of water in the Cauvery.

Kodagu district is the major watershed and catchment for the Cauvery and has witnessed rampant conversion of not just forest land but also wetlands and coffee plantations.

The statistics revealed by the district authorities are shocking as between 2005 and 2015, more than 2,800 acres of paddy field, coffee plantations and highlands were converted to residential layouts, sites, commercial complexes and resorts.

Col C P Muthanna, president, Coorg Wildlife Society said, “We have received this data from the district authorities as a reply to our RTI application. This is a matter of grave concern as the tiny district is the lifeline of not only south Karnataka but also Tamil Nadu. The river’s catchment areas have made way for buildings … the district has also been losing its tree cover to infrastructure projects, high tension power lines and railway lines.”

The Coorg Wildlife Society has met the district authorities in this regard and submitted a memorandum highlighting how large scale conversion of wetlands/highlands without even getting a NoC from the gram panchayats have taken off and legalised later by paying bribes. They have requested the authorities concerned to carry out a site inspection in the three taluks and a proper assessment on conversions. Col Muthanna adds, “The DC has tentatively agreed to our request. Further, we have requested for a study on carrying capacity of tourism in Kodagu that may finally result in policy measures for sustainable tourism.”

Environmental activist Sundar Muthanna, who has started an online petition ‘Stop the two railway tracks to Kodagu and Save Cauvery River’ and addressed it to PM and 14 others says, “Implementing the two railway lines will involve cutting of lakhs of trees in the catchment region. Kodagu has already lost 54,000 trees for a high tension power line to Kerala and now hundreds of fresh applications for conversions are pending with the department. Land conversion seems to be the government term for ‘ecological suicide’.”

Railways and highways are being planned to promote tourism and business. “When tree-holding agricultural land is converted for commercial purposes, the trees are cut for construction activities. In river catchment area, less trees is … simply put … less river. The Cauvery went completely dry in Kodagu in March this year … we don’t seem capable of understanding the many warnings that nature is giving us,” Muthanna says.

Environmentalists say a study done by researchers of Indian Institute of Science has already revealed the decreasing water flows to the Cauvery from the catchment areas of the district. Prof T V Ramachandra, head of Wetland and Energy Research Group, IISc headed this study — Modelling Hydrologic Regime of Lakshmanthirtha Watershed, River Cauvery. The study outlines how change in land use in Kodagu has decreased the flows into Cauvery. The assessment showed that out of five watersheds, four had high deficiency of water for over three months.

Kodagu DC was not available for her comments.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / June 13th, 2018

Vintage Car Collector In Kodagu Dies As Tree Branch Falls On Him

June 12, 2018Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sportsadmin

Madikeri:

A farmer and a vintage car collector died after a tree branch fell on him at Nellihudikeri village near Siddapura in Kodagu district yesterday.

The deceased, 67-year-old P.C. Ahmed Kutti Haji, was working in his Mubarak Estate along with his son Ashraf at around 11.30 am. Due to heavy rain and wind, a branch of a banyan tree fell on Ahmed Kutti. He was immediately rushed to a hospital. But he succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Kodagu Deputy Commissioner P.I. Sreevidya has announced Rs.5 lakh compensation to his family. She sent the cheque through the Tahsildar.

With his death, Kodagu has lost a collector of Vintage ‘beauties

Ahmed Kutti Haji is a coffee planter and also an industrialist. He has a huge collection of vintage cars which he threw open to public. Collecting vintage cars was a hobby for Ahmed who has 86 of them and over 15 vintage petrol jeeps. Not to stop there, he also has 20 old two-wheelers, a 125-year-old bicycle and a 200-year-old bullock cart. The oldest car in the collection is 1925 model.

Normally vintage car collectors eye Bengaluru to add cars to their collection. Changing the trend, Ahmed focussed on old workshops in Kodagu and surrounding areas to hunt vintage ‘beauties.’ After picking them, Ahmed gave old cars a fresh coat of paint and tuned them to working condition.

Almost all foreign cars owned by Ahmed were manufactured between 1925 and 1965. Barring Dharmasthala, no other place in the State has such a wide collection of vintage cars.

With his death, Kodagu has lost a vintage automobile enthusiast.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News /June 10th, 2018

Karnataka: Solar fencing of Thithimathi forest begins

April 29, 2018Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, Alladmin

The tentacle solar fencing project, aimed at reducing man-elephant conflict in Kodagu district, kick started in Kushalnagar-Thithimathi forest range.

Madikeri :

The tentacle solar fencing project, aimed at reducing man-elephant conflict in Kodagu district, kick started in Kushalnagar-Thithimathi forest range. The 67.91 lakh project will have improved fencing hanging from 20 ft above and promises to keep the check the conflict.

Green tall posts were planted beside the roads bordering Maldare and Chikka Reshme forest area and steel wires were hung from these posts as opposed to the earlier fences that ran across the polls vertically. Solar power generation systems too were connected and had a tagline ‘save wildlife, save forest’ imprinted on them.

Forest officials confirmed that the fencing would be carried out across 24 km of the stretch. One km fencing with two posts will cost `2.80 lakh and the tender for this project was grabbed by Mysuru bidder Ambarish Gowda.

While the old solar fences in the range were blamed for their under-maintenance, the new project promises to overcome this issue as the bidder has signed the contract agreeing upon to maintain the installed solar fences for a span of three years.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / April 20th, 2018

A symbiotic bond with tribal communities

April 12, 2018About Kodagu / Coorg, Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Natureadmin

For 38-year-old S Thanaraj, a visit to study the impact on the lifestyle of Paliyar tribal community due to globalisation in 2006 was a life changing moment. He was impressed by how tribal communities embrace nature and live in forests complementing each other.

A native of Radhapuram in Tirunelveli, he shifted to Madurai to pursue law. Being a dalit, Thanaraj has witnessed caste discrimination at a very young age. He always stood against it and had the tendency of helping others since childhood. This came true after his formal education, when he turned an activist. The law graduate has worked in various areas like youth empowerment, environment and total prohibition by joining hands with various organisations including CESCI, Ekta Parishad and People’s Education for Action and Liberation.

Thanaraj became an Adivasi activist after he extensively worked with the Paliyars, educating them about the Forest Act which ensures their right over forest land. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act passed in 2006 promises tribal rights over agriculture land which traditional belonged to them, accessing forest produces and right to protect and manage the forest, which had been denied for long.

“I went to educate them, but ended up learning so many things from them. Their life is an exemplary one in conserving forest, which needs to be learnt by all. I have taken these lessons to over 1.5 lakh school and college students so far,” Thanaraj said.

For instance, Adivasis do not kill pregnant animals for meat. When they collect roots, they plant more and they never cut living trees, they only use dead trees. They treat woman equally and encourage widow remarriage. There is no dowry system either, said Thanaraj.
While he worked for Paliyars till 2008, he expanded his horizon and started working for various communities like Kadar in Valparai and Anaimalai, Malasar in Amaravathi, Udumalaipettai and Anaimalai, Muduvan in the interior forests of Theni and Valparai forests and Mahamalasar from Anaimalai and Topslip.

Thanaraj’s has a strategy in empowering the Adivasi community. To create leaders among them, unite them to retrieve their rights over forest and defend themselves from exploitation, he along with the organisations he works for help Adivasis in various areas in the state by getting them housing facility and agricultural land. Only recently, Kadar tribe from 24 villages in and around Valparai in Coimbatore received 10 acres of land after several stages of protest.
Thanaraj has taken part in various national-wide protests carried out to ensure the rights of Adivasis. He has also organised many state-level protests demanding total prohibition. He has also extensively worked in the Tsunami rescue and rehabilitation throughout the TN coast. He also played active role in the protests against Sterlite and Koodankulam nuclear plant.

Thanaraj was lucky to get married to a like-minded person like K M Leelavathi, a daughter of a tribal leader from Coorg, in 2010. An MSW graduate, she too joined him in the work towards helping deprived communities. Recently, he joined the Centre for Justice and People and continues his work towards Adivasi empowerment.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City News> Madurai News / TNN / April 11th, 2018

Patience helps Nagarathar kin to enter TN coffee market

April 9, 2018Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

With coffee running in the blood lines of the family the Mother Mirra Group has owned coffee plantations for four generations.

Coimbatore:

His family is introduced as the ‘first Asians’ to own a plantation in Asia. Ironically, it took several years and four generations of entrepreneurs of the ‘Mother Mirra Group of Companies’ to foray into retail coffee market.

Speaking to DC, Mr. Sundar Subramaniam executive director of group said, “way back in the 1930s, my great grandfather Mr. PPR. Subramanian Chettiar owned and managed estates in Malaysia at a time when only British and Scots owned coffee plantations. Since then on, my family is in the business of supplying coffee powder and roasted beans from our estates in Coorg to different parts of India. Entering into the domestic filter coffee market is a dream come true for my father Mr. S. Subramanian, who is a third generation entrepreneur of our family.”

With Mirras Coffee the company has entered the domestic filter coffee market. Two options of coffee powder were launched in Coimbatore recently. Mirras Premium blend is a combination of 85 per cent coffee and 15 per cent chicory while the Mirras Gold variant is a combination of 53 per cent coffee and 47 per cent chicory.

Available in 200 grams sachets, for a cost that is affordable, the traditional filter coffee tastes just like home-made coffee, sticking to the tag line of the product ‘idhu namma veetu kaapi’.

The product is available across big and small stores and supermarkets across the city. The firm has a strong dealership network in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. “We have partnered with 350 dealers across both the regions. In a year’s time we are hopeful of capturing 3.50 per cent to 4 per cent of the filter coffee market,” Mr. Sundar Subramaniam said.

The company already has a strong market hold in the wholesale filter coffee market segment with regular consignments of their coffee powder delivered across India. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is where the company does thriving business. The coffee is customized for their wholesale clients.