The Hindu : National : Hot cuppa from Vizag

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006

National

National

Hot cuppa from Vizag

B. Madhu Gopal

— Photo: K.R. Deepak

FOR COMPETITION: Coffee plants in full bloom in Visakhapatnam.

VISAKHAPATNAM: The coffee produced by tribals in the agency areas of Visakhapatnam district has made its way to the finals of the `cupping competition' to be held in Berne, Switzerland on May 17.

Jhansi Mahila Sangam of Gondhipakalu village in Chintapalli mandal and Grama Devata Mahila Sangam of Vasavada village in G.K. Veedhi mandal have made it to the finals, beating some Government organisations, corporates, private and even multi-nationals, despite their comparatively low investment.

The Coffee Board organises the `cupping competition' every year to select the best coffee varieties in India and encourage their growers. This year, a large number of growers, including multi-national companies involved in coffee cultivation in India, took part.

The event saw the tribal growers rubbing shoulders with elite growers in the first two rounds held in Bangalore. In all, 199 samples were presented at the Flavour of India — The Fine Cup Award - 2006. Of these 10 coffee samples, in different categories, were sent from Andhra Pradesh. Only 40 of the 199 could make it to the final round. An international jury would evaluate them.

The two tribal sangams from the district are placed in the ninth and 12th positions among the 40 finalists. It is all the more interesting that the growers are women.

The board has been offering extension services for producing better coffee beans through training programmes to tribals during the past two years.

``The objective of the Board in organising the final round in Berne is that it would coincide with the Conference and Exhibition of Specialty Coffee Association of Europe, which will also host the World Barista Championship around the same time in which over 1,000 foreign delegates are expected to participate. This would provide a perfect platform to expose Indian coffee to foreign experts and buyers,'' Deputy Director of Extension (projects) S. Mushtaq told The Hindu.

The entries will be evaluated in five categories: Arabica and Robusta (parchment and cherry), Mysore Nuggets Extra Bold (MNEB), Robusta Kaapi Royale and Certified Organic Coffee. The tribal sangams have submitted their entries for the Arabica parchment (washed) variety. The maximum entries are for this category.

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