Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Araku Coffee has already established its reputation internationally, and now, for the first time, organic coffee cultivation has been introduced in the tribal regions of Andhra Pradesh. The Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) has taken the initiative to cultivate and procure this coffee, attracting the attention of the Tata Group, which has expressed interest in purchasing the produce. While organic farming has been practiced for various crops in the region, this marks the first time coffee plantations have adopted this method.

The success of Araku Coffee can be traced back to the comprehensive coffee development project initiated by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government a decade ago. Under this project, the GCC actively encouraged organic coffee cultivation. Four years ago, the initiative gained momentum when 2,600 acres of coffee plantations in Chintapalli and Gudem Kotha Veedhi mandals of Alluri Sitarama Raju district were brought under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) standards. This scientific approach, involving tribal farmers, aimed to enhance the quality and sustainability of Araku Coffee.

To ensure the highest standards, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) certified agencies conducted rigorous inspections over three consecutive years. As a result, the organic certification was successfully obtained this year. The GCC invested approximately Rs.70 lakh in this certification process. The Tata Group, already a key player in the coffee industry, is keen on launching organic coffee in the market.

With coffee production declining globally, there has been a surge in demand for Araku Coffee in domestic markets. This year, purchase prices have reached record levels. Organic coffee, in particular, fetches a premium price. While regular parchment coffee is sold at Rs.400 per kilogram, organic parchment coffee commands Rs.450 per kilogram. The price difference of Rs.50 to Rs.80 per kilogram has encouraged more farmers to transition to organic cultivation.

With increasing global recognition and support from corporate giants like Tata, Araku Coffee is poised to strengthen its position in the premium organic coffee market, offering better economic opportunities for tribal farmers in the region.