The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Their livelihood is in your cup of coffee

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Saturday, Jan 12, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Their livelihood is in your cup of coffee

T.S. Ranganna

Last year, the society sold 10 tonnes of coffee
It sells coffee directly to retail outlets

K.M. Raje Gowda

BANGALORE: Farmers and horticulturists have a never-ending tale of woes.

Prominent among the problems faced by them are the glut, whether it is tomato, potato, maize, sugarcane, onion, or the menace of middlemen.

Any number of agitation and protests by farmers’ organisations, the issues are not settled for decades forcing farmers to resort to the extreme action of committing suicide. Farmers have been talking of marketing their produce directly to the consumer, but with no success.

The Coffee Cooperative Society of Arehally in Belur taluk of Hassan district, one of the three major coffee growing districts of the State, has been able to help growers market their produce directly to end users with growing success.

Society president K.M. Rajegowda, who is a founder member of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, told The Hindu that his society had released its own brand of coffee at a function organised in collaboration with the Coffee Board last year.

Copsy Coffee is sold in Bangalore, Mysore and Hassan. In the last year, 10 tonnes of coffee had been marketed.

He said the society was not driven by profits but by its desire to supply quality coffee to coffee drinkers. Farmers too would be ensured a livelihood.

The society had plans to its marketing network to other districts.

In Bangalore, farmers would sell coffee at the Prabhat Complex on Kempe Gowda Road.

Mr. Gowda said growers, who raise cardamom, pepper and ginger in organic conditions in their plantations, would exhibit and sell their produce at the 11-day flower show to be opened in Cubbon Park commencing from January 16. They will market shikakai and soapnut at reasonable prices.

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