Koraput: The ‘Koraput coffee’ has already earned a name for itself in the global market, thanks to its unique taste. The beverage is so popular that the stocks get exhausted and also replenished within a few hours of opening of offline and online stores.
Currently, it is even available on Amazon.in. Now, Koraput coffee is tickling the taste buds of coffee lovers in Pondicherry’s Auroville. There is a huge demand for Koraput coffee in Pondicherry.
Such is its popularity that an Auroville-based business enterprise ‘Coffee Ideas’ has agreed to market the coffee grown in Koraput in international market.
‘Coffee Ideas’ will procure coffee from growers in Koraput and sell it across the country and abroad. This initiative is expected to help in socio-economic development of coffee growers in the tribal-dominated district. This will also secure the livelihood of tribals.
Marcos, the Chief Manager of ‘Coffee Ideas’, had visited Chotaguda-based ‘Brown Valley Coffee’ a few days back. He collected a few Arabica coffee beans and took it for experiment. This homegrown coffee is a single-origin 100 per cent Arabica coffee. He was so satisfied with the quality and the taste of the coffee that he has procured 5 quintal of the unique beverage.
Now, the enterprise plans to market Koraput coffee globally. The enterprise has also promised to keep intact the quality of the coffee before it is sold in the market.
“The taste of our coffee is compared to the coffee produced in Brazil and Colombia. We also export it to Europe and America. The Government should encourage coffee processing here,” a coffee farmer said.
Meanwhile, the state government is also providing support to the coffee farmers. Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had given forest land rights of 46,000 acre to 30,000 families for coffee cultivation.
On the occasion of International Coffee Day, he had also launched a dedicated e-commerce platform (koraputcoffee.org) which will make Koraput coffee available across the globe.
Worth mentioning, coffee farming is transforming lives in the tribal hinterland of Koraput. Located at a height of 3,000 ft above sea level, the district is ideal for coffee cultivation due to its cool climate and rainfall.