Agri. & Commodities
Govt to make Andhra Pradesh organic coffee hub

New Delhi (PTI): Government has earmarked Rs 76 crore to promote cultivation and export of organic coffee in Andhra Pradesh, aimed at providing livelihood security in naxal-infested areas of the state.

"We would invest Rs 76 crore over the next five years to make Paderu region in Andhra Pradesh a zone for organic coffee. While the Coffee Board would contribute Rs 40 crore, the rest would come from the state government," Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said.

This is the first major initiative to promote organic coffee in the country, he said, adding that the entire coffee crop in Paderu is pesticide-free. Half of the cultivation is done without the use of pesticides and fertilisers, Ramesh said.

An area of 40,000 acre is under coffee cultivation in Paderu involving 60,000 families of small and marginal tribal farmers. Coffee production in the area is 4,000 tons, about 1.5 per cent of India's production of the bean.

"In the next five years, we plan to double the area under coffee cultivation to 80,000 acre as well as double the number of farmers involved to 1,20,000," he said, adding that the production would grow accordingly.

He said an MoU has been signed between the Coffee Board, state government and Naandi Foundation, promoted by pharma major Dr Reddy's Laboratories.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the Coffee Board would provide coffee varieties and technical assistance, while Naandi would provide testing, certification and marketing facilities.

Agri. & Commodities

---

---