Tata Coffee Ltd has informed BSE that Mr. V. Leeladhar has been appointed as an Additional Director on the Board of the Company with immediate effect.
source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Companies / source: BSE – www.bseindia.com / December 22nd, 2014
New Delhi:
Tata Coffee, Asia’s largest coffee plantation company, on Tuesday said its board has approved a proposal to split its equity shares from the existing face value of Rs. 10 per share to Rs. 1 per share.
However, the stock split is subject to the approval of company’s shareholders which is proposed to be obtained through postal ballot and e-voting, the company said in a filing to the BSE.
Stock split or sub-division of equity shares is usually done by the companies with the purpose of infusing liquidity by making shares affordable for retail investors who could not invest earlier because of the high stock price.
On November 17, the company had informed that board will consider the proposal of stock split of its equity shares.
Tata Coffee had reported a manifold increase in consolidated net profit at Rs. 32.36 crore for the second quarter that ended on September 30, on account of better performance by the company’s US subsidiary.
Shares in Tata Coffee, on Tuesday, ended at Rs. 977.25 apiece on BSE, up 0.62 per cent from the previous close.
source: http://www.profit.ndtv.com / NDTV Profit / Home> Market / Press Trust of India / November 25th, 2014
In an effort to enhance the production of robusta and arabica coffees, the Coffee Board has proposed higher allocation for replanting and expansion, Coffee Board Chairman Jawaid Akhtar said on Thursday.
Under the 12th Plan subsidy rates have been proposed at 40 per cent for up to 2 hectares, 30 per cent for 2-10 hectares and 25 per cent for holdings of above 10 hectares.
Inaugurating the United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) and Karnataka Planters Association (KPA) coffee conference on Thursday, Akhtar said, “Coffee Board has proposed to increase the unit cost by 75 per cent to Rs 1,75,000 per hectare.”
For the first time, the Board has included corporates and co-operatives to avail of the subsidy.
Besides, the Board has also introduced subsidy for eco-certification at 50 per cent of the certification cost at a ceiling of Rs 50,000 per beneficiary. It has also enhanced subsidy for quality upgradation to Rs 2.50 lakh for up to 20 hectares.
UPASI President Vijayan Rajes said the coffee committee of UPASI will submit a proposal to the Coffee Board to forward it to the Centre to release funds for producing two new robusta clones and one robusta seedling. This will be in collaboration with Incaper, Brazil’s premium research organisation for conillon robusta.
“We are planning to have a new proposal to get India-specific arabica plants with know-how from Brazil,” Rajes added. “This will help us have 10 million clones supplied to coffee growers in the first four years; and, from the fifth year, the share of Indian robusta will be increased by 50 per cent,” Rajes said.
B M Mahesh Kumar, a coffee planter from Hosathota Estate, Ballupet, spoke on ‘Achieving High Productivity of Black Pepper through Water, Shade and Nutrition Management’. He said, “Disease control can be effected by following judicious Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM).”
“Many people are taking up mono pepper cultivation at the cost of arabica coffee which is not a good sign,” Kumar said, adding that farmers should adopt innovative methods to multiply pepper vines for higher production.
Indian Vanilla Enterprise Pvt Ltd and Indian Vanilla Initiative Pvt Ltd, Pollachi, Chairman R Mahendran speaking on ‘Cocoa Cultivation, Processing and Management’, said that the opportunity of cultivating cocoa as another inter-crop for coconut, arecanut and oil palm in select regions of Karnataka holds promise.
Ease of cultivation and management make cocoa an attractive income generator, Mahendran added.
UPASI-TRF (Tea Research Foundation) Valparai, Quality Assurance Assistant Director N Palani stressed the importance of maintaining organic matter in the soil for preserving the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil.
Palani added that since the top soil is rich in humus, it has to be safeguarded from erosion for which soild and water conservation measures, depending on the slope of the terrain, must be taken.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Business / DHNS – Bengaluru, November 14th, 2014
Enhances subsidy rates and extends assistance to corporates & co-operatives in 12th Plan period
The Coffee Board has set a target of achieving 400,000 tonnes of bean production through more of planting and productivity in the next five to 10 years, about 30 per cent growth over current output.
In 2013-14, production was 304,500 tonnes, a level it has roughly stayed at in recent years.
“Coffee production has stagnated. We have chalked out several programmes like area expansion in non-traditional areas and replanting in traditional areas, along with productivity enhancement,” Board chairman Jawaid Akhtar told planters here on Thursday.
A package has been readied for Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Plantations in the former’s Araku valley were hit by the recent Hudhud cyclone; about 1,000 tonnes of damage is estimated. Tribals in the region had grown around 6,700 tonnes, spread over 58,000 hectares, Akhtar said. As part of the area expansion, he told the annual coffee conference organised by Karnataka Planters’ Association and United Planters’ Association of Southern India, the aim is to have the Araku valley produce around 25,000 tonnes in the next five years. The Board has proposed to provide Rs 10 per kg subsidy to tribals for marketing it, he said.
The Board has also proposed to continue its replantation and expansion subsidy for growers. The modalities to implement new schemes are likely to be approved next week, Akhtar said. It wishes to retain the replantation or expansion subsidy rates at 40 per cent for areas up to two hectares, 30 per cent for two to 10 ha and 25 per cent for holdings above 10 ha for the 12th Plan period. In addition, it has proposed to raise the unit cost calculation by 75 per cent to Rs 175,000 a ha. For the first time, it has proposed to have corporate groups and co-operatives be eligible for the subsidy.
Also for the first time, the Board has introduced a subsidy for eco-certification, at half the certification cost, with a ceiling of Rs 50,000 a beneficiary. It has also raised the subsidy for quality upgradation to Rs 2.5 lakh up to 20 ha.
The Board has also continued a subsidy scheme for pollution abatement measures and made corporate and cooperative growers’ bodies eligible. The rate of subsidy is to be doubled to 40 per cent, with a ceiling of Rs 5 lakh for a beneficiary.
It has also proposed to enhance the rainfall insurance premiums for small growers and reimburse them up to 75 per cent of the premium. For the first time, it has proposed a support of Rs 4 a kg of clean coffee to small grower collectives, self-help groups and other cooperatives.
The incentive for export of value-added coffee in retail packs as India brands has been enhanced by 50 per cent to Rs 3 a kg. Plus a doubling of the incentive for export of high value coffee to high value markets, to Rs 2 a kg.
Also for the first time, a 25 per cent subsidy on the cost of machinery for curing units, to a ceiling of Rs 50 lakh each.
source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Markets> Commodities> Other Commodities / by Mahesh Kulkarni / Bengaluru – November 13th, 2014
India’s coffee production is forecast to increase by 1 lakh bags to 5.1 million on higher robusta output in Karnataka, the largest coffee producing state, according to the Karnataka Planters Association (KPA) Chairman D Govindappa Jayaram.
Briefing reporters on Wednesday, Jayaram said arabica production is forecast modestly lower as it enters the off-year of the biennial production cycle. Forecast for bean exports is unchanged at 3.7 million. The Coffee Board’s final estimate for 2013-14 is 3,04,500 lakh metric tonnes comprising 1,02,200 metric tonnes of arabica and 2,02,300 metric tonnes of robusta.
The final estimate for Karnataka is 2,11,100 tonnes with 78,440 tonnes of arabica and 1,32,600 tonnes of robusta. Post-blossom forecast for 2014-15 is placed at 3,44,750 metric tonnes comprising 1,05,500 tonnes of arabica and 2,39,250 tonnes of robusta.“We, however, estimate that production will decline 20-30 per cent during 2013-14 and the estimate of the Coffee Board during 2014-15 will not be reached, in particular, arabica coffee which has seen severe incidence of white stem borer,” Jayaram said.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Business / Bengaluru – DHNS, November 12th, 2014
Coffee exporters from Coorg are looking up to the newly-commissioned Azhikkal port to route their consignments as it offers savings in time and transportation costs.
“At present, we use Mangalore port for our exports, mainly to the European destinations,” said S.L.N. Vishwanath, the managing director of SVL Coffee Pvt Ltd, a major exporter from Kushal Nagar.
“Kannur port will help us cut costs as it is closer to the coffee-growing areas. We are also looking for easier transaction of business as the new port will be less congested, and hence we are keen on it,” he said.
Mr Vishwanath, along with ITC, exports 35,000 tonne of the total exports of 60,000 tonne from the region. “The port officials had contacted us with their proposal earlier and we had asked them to come back with solid proposals. If they can offer us better rates and efficiency of service, we will route our exports through Kannur.”
Kushal Nagar alone exports close to 4,000 containers of coffee and the major destinations are the European countries and the Gulf.
The exporters, however, demand that the port put in place infrastructure facilities such as electronic data interface which would facilitate seamless movement of cargo across ports.
Exporters in Kannur are also keen on the development as it would ensure that the port scale up its activities. The Kannur port, which the Central government had selected for development under the National Maritime Development Plan, received its first vessel on October 31 this year.
source: http://www.asianage.com / The Asian Age / Home> Business / by K.J.Jacob – Kochi / November 12th, 2014
The Nagaland state department of Land Resources has agreed to go ahead with the cultivation of coffee in Nagaland, with the Coffee Board of India assuring assistance to farmers in plantation and marketing.
Initially, it will cover Kohima District (Kohima village, Rusoma and Sechu Zubza). To make headway, the department in association with Coffee Board of India organized one-day training on “Cultivation of Coffee” here today at Ura Academy.
Dr. Menuosietuo Tseikha, DPO, DoLR said many villages in Nagaland possess ideal climatic conditions to cultivate coffee. He said the purpose of the programme was to train farmers on how to cultivate coffee in good way and get high yield.
The training was an opportunity for the farmers to know the systematic plantation of coffee from researchers.
Partha Pratim Choudhury, senior liaison officer, Coffee Board of India informed that in India, coffee can trace its origin to the planting of seven seeds of Mocha in 1600 CE by Baba Budan in Karnataka. In Nagaland, coffee was first planted in Kohima village.
He stated that Nagaland’s climate is suitable for growing coffee; a reason for the Coffee Board of India’s focus to invest in the state, particularly Kohima district. He assured to promote farmers with every amenity available under the board and also assured them to take care of marketing. He also invited farmers to the research farm, adding that the whole expenditure will be borne by the Board.
Renben Jami, Joint Director & Supervisory Officer, Kohima district, DoLR said Nagaland can become a producer state. The favorable climate can help achieve this end and thereby remove the state’s tag of only being a consumer. With this, he encouraged the trainees to take up anything which will bring about economic changes in society. “We do not want to take up anything which will not bring about economic changes. The standard of living is to be improved, there has to be some economic activities…,” Jami said.
After a gap of 20 years, he informed that the department has agreed to go ahead with the cultivation of coffee in the State and encouraged farmers to make Kohima district a coffee district.
source: http://www.morungexpress.com / The Morung Express / Home> Local / by The Morung Express Correspondent / Kohima- November 11th, 2014
Coffee planters have pegged coffee bean production at three lakh tonnes for 2014-15 (post-blossom estimates) against the Coffee Board’s projections of 3,44,750 tonnes.
The reason for stagnation in bean production is attributed to rampant pest attacks from white stem borers (WSB) across Arabica growing regions in Karnataka, which accounts for 70 per cent of the country’s output. To avoid the spread of borers, many planters have resorted to uprooting plants infected by WSB in estates.
There has been severe WSB attacks in Arabica plantations in Kodagu, Chikkamagalur and Hassan districts, according to Karnataka Planters Association (KPA) Chairman D. Govindappa Jayaram.
The Board estimated domestic Robusta production at 1,05,500 tonnes and Arabica at 2,39,250 tonnes. While the KPA said the Board’s estimates for Robusta production would be reached, it would not in the case of Arabica production. Arabica production would reach only 60,000 tonnes for the year. Hudhud cyclone has caused severe damage to Arabica plantations in Andhra Pradesh, the KAP said.
The Board estimation for Karnataka is 2,48,300 tonnes with 80,700 tonnes of Arabica and 1,67,600 tonnes of Robusta.
Coffee planters deliberated on various issues confronting the industry during the 56th AGM of the KPA here. Home Minister K J George said a meeting between growers and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would be convened to address the grievances of the industry.
BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje, said no pesticides have been found to tackle WSB in the country. “Now, WSB infected plants are being removed or burnt to prevent spread of the disease,” she said.
The severe incidence WSB is due to the continuous dry weather from October 2013 to April 2014 and high temperature during summer months had ruined Arabica prospects, planters said.
The Coffee Board has set a target to achieve four lakh tonnes of bean production in the country through area expansion and productivity enhancement in the next 5-10 years, a growth of over 30 per cent over the current production level.
In 2013-14, production stood at 304,500 tonnes.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Nagesh Prabhu / Bengaluru – November 14th, 2014
The app helps coffee growers to get instant returns for their produce. Livelihood 360 is also capable of estimating quantity of the produce in the fields and sell the crop at fair price.
The coffee farmers of Araku valley these days get instant returns for their produce. Gone are the days when they had to wait for nearly a month till the buyers completed the weighing process of the produce and release money through co-operative society. Thanks to a mobile application developed by Hyderabad-based entrepreneur, Raghu Kanchustambham, there is no waiting period.
The app dubbed as ‘Livelihood 360 (L360)’ was adjudged the Best App of Asia in the Telenor Digital Winners Conference, a global competition held in Oslo, Norway this month. The award came with a cash prize of Rs. 9,79,000, which will be utilised by the developer to further “scale up” the concept.
It all started when Mr. Raghu, who has a start-up ‘Concept Wave’, met the officials of Naandi Foundation, which was already working with the coffee farmers of Araku valley. “The basic premise was to utilise technology and reach to those people not having access to technology and internet. I visited Araku valley and spent time with them and learnt a lot about their lifestyle and livelihood,” he said.
Mr. Raghu said the previous system of remittance to coffee growers in Araku was taking about a month. The coffee growers would take their produce to a prescribed ‘adda’ where the truck drivers would collect and transport coffee beans to another location for weighing and valuing. “We gave the truck drivers an application that would quantify the yield and also determine the quality instantly. The drivers will immediately remit the amount on the spot to farmers,” he explained.
Livelihood 360 is also capable of estimating quantity of the produce in the fields and sell the crop at fair price. “We have already adopted this application among 12,000 coffee farmers in 650 villages of Araku. Between 40 and 50 truck drivers from Araku were given training on using the application on a feature phone and not a smart phone,” he explained.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by M. Sai Gopal / Hyderabad – November 12th, 2014
Tata Starbucks Ltd, the 50:50 joint venture of US beverage chain Stabucks with Tata Global Beverages, plans to source more coffee from Tata Group company Tata Coffee, company officials said in a statement on Tuesday.
To mark the company’s second anniversary in India, Tata Starbucks launched a locally sourced, roasted and packaged arabica blend, ‘Starbucks India Estates Blend’, in select Starbucks stores in Asia as well as online in the United States.
“We will see such initiatives only growing in the future, displaying the strong unity between Starbucks and Tata Coffee. It is a reflection of the shared commitment between Starbucks and Tata Coffee to develop and promote Indian-grown arabica coffees,” Avani Davda, chief executive officer, Tata Starbucks Limited said in a statement.
The arabica beans from Tata Coffee have been selected by Starbucks coffee experts from Tata Coffee’s estates across Coorg and Chikmagalur, the birth place of coffee in India. The blend has been named to represent the origin of the coffee and the packaging has been carefully created to reflect traditional Indian designs, the company said.
“This commitment to highlighting India’s rich coffee heritage, builds on the strong growth of 59 Starbucks stores across six cities and more than 1,000 passionate partners (employees) in India,” John Culver, group president, Starbucks China and Asia Pacific, Channel Development and Emerging Brands, said.
Starbucks entered the Indian market in October 2012 and currently operates 59 stores in India across Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Business / DHNS – Bangalore, November 04th, 2014
