Geographical indications set to boost Indian coffee sales

Coffee Board places 13 parts based on agro-climatic, taste profile.

The International Coffee Organisation's (ICO) move to present geographical indicants (GIs) for java in its member states is likely to hike gross sales of North American Indian java globally.

As a first measure towards the acceptance of GIs, ICO is holding a seminar — Geographical Indications for Coffee — in Greater London on May 20.

The seminar will discourse the issues of labelling, traceability and certification, the current legal issues relating to geographical indicants and the usage of geographical indications.

"The seminar anticipates to educate members about attacks to merchandise differentiation, which can be an of import selling tool in a competitory market," said Néstor Osorio, executive manager director, International Coffee Organization.

"India is known globally for shade-grown 'mild' java and is the lone state growing all its java under shade. The java grown here is typically mild and not too acidic. It possess an alien full-bodied taste and a mulct aroma," said a Coffee Board official.

When java terms plummeted in 2002 and 2003, the Coffee Board took up the issue of merchandise distinction and branded different parts in the country.

Since then, it have identified 13 java growing parts based on agro-climatic conditions and the taste sensation profiles by holding cupping competitions.

"The gilbert tag for different parts in Republic Of India is likely to see region-wise promotion of java and assist getting higher terms realisations," the Coffee Board functionary pointed out.

DIFFERENT java GROWING regions

Annamalais (Tamil Nadu) — Entire country under coffee: 2,500 hectares; mean production: 1,500 tonnes; chief intercrops: pepper, orange, and banana.

Araku Valley (Andhra Pradesh) — Entire country under coffee: 20,000 hectares; mean production: 3,100 tonnes; chief intercrops: pepper, mango, jackfruit, and vegetables.

Bababudangiris (Karnataka) — Entire country under coffee: 15,000 hectares; mean production: 10,500 tonnes; chief intercrops: pepper, cardamom, and arecanut.

Biligiris (Karnataka) — Entire country under coffee: 800 hectares; mean production: 700-800 tonnes; chief intercrops: orange, banana, and pepper.

Brahmaputra (Assam) — Entire country under coffee: 5,000 hectares; mean production: 300 tonnes; chief intercrops: pineapple, pepper, jackfruit, and vegetables.

Chikmagalur (Karnataka) — Entire country under coffee: Arabica (37,000 hectares), Robusta (23,000 hectares); mean production: Arabica (29,000 tonnes), Robusta (30,000 tonnes); chief intercrops: pepper, cardamom, arecanut, orange, and vanilla.

Coorg (Karnataka) — Entire country under coffee: Arabica (26,000 hectares), Robusta (56,000 hectares), norm production: Arabica (24,000 tonnes), Robusta (69,000 tonnes); chief intercrops: pepper, cardamom, orange, banana, and arecanut.

Manjarabad (Karnataka) — Entire country under coffee: Arabica (31,700 hectares), Robusta (9,400 hectares), norm production: Arabica (21,000 tonnes), Robusta (9,500 tonnes); chief intercrops: pepper, cardamom, orange, arecanut, and banana.

Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu) — Entire country under coffee: Arabica (3,600 hectares), Robusta (4,000 hectares), norm production: Arabica (1,400 tonnes), Robusta (2,800 tonnes); chief intercrops: pepper, orange, banana, ginger, and vegetables.

Pulney (Tamil Nadu) — Entire country under coffee: 14,000 hectares, norm production: 7,500 tonnes; chief intercrops: orange, banana, pepper, cardamom, and vegetables.

Shevroys (Tamil Nadu) — Entire country under coffee: 5,000 hectares, norm production: 3,000 tonnes; chief intercrops: orange, banana, and pepper.

Travancore (Kerala) — Entire country under coffee: 13,000 hectare and mean production: 9,000 tonnes; chief intercrops: pepper, banana, ginger, vegetables, and medicinal plants.

Wayanad (Kerala) — Entire country under coffee: 67,000 hectares and mean production: 54,000 tonnes; chief intercrops are pepper, banana, ginger, and vegetables.