Odisha’s own coffee brand “Koraput Coffee” is all set to woo lovers of the brew around the world.
The state government has roped in Tata Coffee to promote the indigenously grown beans, the bulk of it coming from tribal-dominated Koraput.
“Tata Coffee is buying coffee from Odisha, thereby promoting the beans which are exclusive, solid and rich in taste allowing to experience local flavours of Koraput,” said a press release issued by the chief minister’s office on Sunday.
The 100 per cent arabica coffee is indigenous to Odisha as everything about the beans is sourced from the state itself. Across Koraput, coffee is grown in Laxmipur, Kashipur, Dasmantpur, Nandpur, Lamtaput, Koraput, Potangi and Nandpur blocks. In 2020-21, around 28,790kg of coffee cherry was procured by the Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation of Odisha Limited (TDCCOL) with the help of 193 tribal farmers.
Naveen on Sunday talked to one of the coffee cultivators, Sulochana Khar, who hails from Koraput.
“Sulochana turned out to be a role model and an inspiration for others by selling more than 2000kg of coffee cherry to TDCC. In order to cater to the demands of Koraput coffee, the commitment of farmers like Sulochana is commendable,” said the chief minister.
He said: “The Tata Coffee’s aid to the Odisha government would certainly help in enhancing the socio-economic condition of the coffee cultivators in the state. During this Covid-crisis, it will help immensely in safeguarding the livelihood of tribals.”
In order to process the coffee, the TDCC with the support of the Coffee Board of Government of India, has opened up coffee curing units for roasting, grinding, packaging and branding this unique flavor. Managing director TDCCOL Mansi Nimbhal said: “We have sent the samples of Koraput coffee to Tata coffee, they found its quality to be very good and it has a premium taste”.
Koraput coffee’s flavour has its own uniqueness. The Koraput coffee is produced at 2500 to 4200 feet above the sea level.
“As the coffee beans are fatty, its flavour is aromatic, smooth and light acidic. It has a long lasting effect,” officials said.
Coffee in Koraput has its own history. Coffee plantation was done in 1954 to arrest the problems caused by siltation near the Macchkund dam in Koraput district. But no one then had thought of its economic value till 1990s.
Later people bordering Andhra Pradesh showed some interest and coffee plantations have now grown. Tribal people were engaged to collect the beans and sell them to the local traders. Even traders from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu buy them.
“With our initiative, the economy of the tribal people can get a boost. They will be immensely benefited. There will be no distress sale of coffee. Coffee producers will get a good price,” said an official.
TDCCOL started selling Koraput coffee in 2019 through their retail outlet in Odisha.
Over 1,000 tribal coffee growers are dependent on the coffee plantations for their livelihood. Market linkage with state tribal corporations has encouraged them to take care of their plantations.
“This year, we can expect the produce to be more than last year as the training and capacity building of the coffee growers was started early with pre-harvest management. So far six farmer producer groups have been set up in the Coffee growing panchayats, with one all women producer group,” officials said.
