Koraput Coffee

Why in the News? 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Man ki Baat programme on Sunday said that more and more Indian coffee varieties are gaining popularity globally.

UPSC Relevance 

Important crops are often asked in Prelims

PYQ

2022 Prelims

Consider the following States:

1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Kerala
3. Himachal Pradesh
4. Tripura

How many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States?

 (a) Only one State

 (b) Only two States

 (c) Only three States

 (d) All four States

Indian Coffee: Global Popularity and Regional Diversity

The Prime Minister highlighted the growing global popularity and remarkable diversity of Indian coffee, which is a significant source of income for cultivators across the country.The Commerce and Industry Ministry and the Prime Minister specifically highlighted Koraput coffee for its quality and positive socio-economic impact.

• Key Cultivation Regions: The popular varieties are grown in diverse regions, including:
  • Karnataka: Chikmagalur, Coorg, and Hassan.
  • Tamil Nadu: Pulney, Shevaroy, Nilgiri, and Annamalai.
  • Biligiri Region: Located on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.
  • Kerala: Wayanad, Travancore, and Malabar.
• The Prime Minister also noted the progress in coffee cultivation in the North-East of India.

The Rise and Impact of Koraput Coffee – from Odisha

• Cultivators: The region has seen successful coffee cultivation driven by passion, including people who left lucrative corporate jobs.
• Socio-Economic Impact:
  • The industry has pleasantly transformed the lives of many women, bringing them both respect and prosperity.
  • For tribal farmers, it provides a steady cash income in place of subsistence farming.
  • The industry is inclusive, with women playing a central role in harvesting and processing.
• Environmental Benefits: Koraput coffee cultivation has helped:
  • Restore degraded forest land.
  • Reduce soil erosion.
• Market Positioning: With support from the Coffee Board, Koraput coffee is being positioned as a specialty tribal coffee, comparable to Araku, resulting in significant improvement in farmers’ incomes and living standards.
  • The GI tag for “Araku Valley Arabica” was granted in 2019 and includes coffee grown in both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, which covers Koraput.
  • The need for a separate tag: Stakeholders argue that Koraput coffee has a distinct flavor profile and unique agricultural practices that warrant its own GI tag.

National Production and Export Figures

The Commerce and Industry Ministry provided key statistics on India’s coffee sector, emphasizing its export focus.

• Cultivation Area & Production: Coffee is grown over 4.90 lakh hectares, producing 3.63 lakh metric tonnes annually.
• Export-Oriented Commodity: Coffee is highly export-oriented, with 70 per cent of the country’s production being exported.
• Global Reach & Earnings: Indian coffee is exported to more than 120 countries, earning $1.80 billion during 2024-25

Read More about Coffee – Coffee crop

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