Tag Archives: Karnataka Coffee Planters Association

Planters want branding like Nandini for coffee in Karnataka

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Coffee growers believe that while the region’s coffee is known for its flavour and aroma, without proper branding, it loses value in larger market.

Despite contributing nearly 70 per cent of India’s total coffee production, Karnataka’s coffee continues to be sold without a unified label which can represent varieties produced in the state.(Representative image)

Bengaluru :

Taking a cue from the success of Nandini in the dairy sector, coffee growers in Karnataka are pushing for a similar branding model for the state’s coffee. The Karnataka Growers’ Federation (KGF) is working on a proposal to create a unified brand called ‘Karnataka Coffee’ to give the state’s produce an identity in both national and international markets.

Federation officials confirmed that preliminary meeting have already been held with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, and they are hopeful that the proposal will be taken forward in the coming days.

Despite contributing nearly 70 per cent of India’s total coffee production, Karnataka’s coffee continues to be sold without a unified label which can represent varieties produced in the state. Coffee growers believe that while the region’s coffee is known for its flavour and aroma, without proper branding, it loses value in larger market.

“Karnataka is the largest coffee-producing state in the country, but we still don’t have a common brand that represents our coffee,” KGF President H Shivanna said, adding that if the state creates one, it will improve market visibility and directly benefit growers, specifically in districts like Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan.

He stressed that the idea is to follow a cooperative model similar to Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which helped make Nandini a wider brand. “The Nandini model also ensured fair pricing for farmers and made distribution marketing more efficient. We want to apply the same structure to coffee,” Shivanna said.

Federation officials pointed out that creating a state-backed brand could help bring attention to long-pending issues faced by planters, including frequent human-elephant conflict, pressure from forest officials, confusion around deemed forest classifications, and the need to extend land lease periods for growers.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by Rishita Khanna / June 16th, 2025

Coffee Board’s plans to enhance coffee bean quality revealed

Business & Economy, Coffee Board, India (wef. Nov 17, 2021), Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

145th Annual General Meeting of the Coorg Planters’ Association held in Madikeri

Madikeri:

The Coffee Board has launched an ambitious initiative to elevate coffee quality across regions by forming community farmer groups at the hobli (village cluster) level. This initiative, announced by Coffee Board CEO and Secretary Dr. K.G. Jagadeesh during the 145th Annual General Meeting of the Coorg Planters’ Association in Madikeri recently, aims to gather insights into coffee quality and apply targeted improvements.

Dr. Jagadeesh highlighted that prioritising quality will ensure a robust future for Indian coffee. Under the initiative, community groups of 100 farmers will be established in each hobli, where collected coffee bean samples will undergo laboratory analysis to determine quality.

Should quality fall short, Coffee Board experts will provide growers with specific guidance on improvement measures, helping them achieve standards that could command higher prices in the international market.

In an effort to attract young talent to coffee farming, the Board also introduced a two-year Coffee Cultivation Diploma. Open to those who have completed the 10th Standard, the diploma programme offers formal training in cultivation and plantation management, addressing the current shortfall of trained supervisory and managerial staff in the industry.

Recognising the expanding demand for skilled café staff, the Board announced plans to offer Barista training for women, youth and enthusiasts. As an estimated 3,000 new coffee cafes are expected to open across India next year, this training will equip individuals to serve plantation visitors and tourists with high-quality coffee..

Tata Coffee Managing Director P.A. Mandanna stressed the importance of sustainable coffee farming, urging growers to embrace environmental, economic and social responsibility. He shared that Tata Coffee has implemented eco-friendly pulpers and rainwater harvesting systems across its estates, which has improved soil fertility and raised groundwater levels.

Experts, including Dr. Raja Vijay Kumar, British agricultural specialist Mark Trisney and K. Sudhindra offered practical demonstrations on various coffee cultivation techniques, providing valuable insights to growers.

Coorg Planters’ Association President A. Nanda Belliappa said that the Association continues to provide essential information to farmers and has actively raised their concerns with the Government.

Other prominent attendees included Association Secretary C.K. Belliappa, Vice-President A.A. Chengappa, Karnataka Coffee Planters’ Association President K.G. Rajeev Ganapathy, former Coffee Board Vice-Presidents N. Bose Mandanna and B.D. Manjunath, among other industry leaders.

The meeting also featured an exhibition and sale of agricultural equipment, drawing significant interest from participants.

This initiative marks a pivotal step by the Coffee Board and industry leaders in strengthening quality and sustainability in Indian coffee farming, aiming to bolster India’s position in the global coffee market.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / November 10th, 2024