₹25 crore for setting up 2,500 coffee kiosks: MB Patil
Bengaluru:
The government has sanctioned Rs 25 crore for setting up 2,500 coffee kiosks (Akka Cafes) to be run by women trained in self-help groups. This will strengthen the value chain in the coffee industry and lead to economic empowerment through job creation, said Minister for Large and Medium Enterprises MB Patil.
He was speaking at the India International Coffee Festival organised by the Specialty Coffee Association of India (SCAI) at the city’s Palace Grounds on Thursday.
The Coffee Board, in collaboration with the National Livelihood Mission-Karnataka, is providing training on coffee brewing, cafe management and entrepreneurship to one lakh women in the state who are active in self-help groups. He said that the government is providing scholarships to the children of workers working in coffee gardens and large plantations in Kodagu district.
It is commendable that coffee growers are branding their crops and showcasing them here at this festival. The Industries Department has opened a Kalaloka shop at Kempegowda International Airport in an effort to bring global recognition to the state’s coffee, he said, where more than 45 GI-certified products of the state, including coffee, are being sold through special packaging and branding.
Coffee is grown on 2.2 lakh hectares of land in the state, ranking first in the country. 75% of the total coffee grown in India is grown in the Hassan, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru districts of Karnataka. He opined that this festival has brought together growers, processors, exporters, roasters, cafe and hospitality service providers, equipment manufacturers, professionals and consumers, which is a good initiative.
On this occasion, he visited many stalls at the festival, got information about coffee varieties etc. with special interest and bought some.
MLA Rizwan Arshad, Coffee Board President M J Dinesh, Principal Secretary of the Industries Department Selvakumar, Secretary and CEO of the Coffee Board of India M. Kurmarao, SCAI President Hamsini Appadorai, Secretary Srikantha Rao, Former President M. Poornesh were present at the event.
