The Hindu Business Line : Coffee promotion drive in Andhra

COFFEE cultivation in the agency (tribal) areas of Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts has weaned away the Girijans from cultivation and improved their socio-economic conditions, Ms L. Venkatachalam, the Chairperson of the Coffee Board, has said.

She was speaking at a press meet here on Sunday before the inaugural of the two-day Coffee Utsav, which was later inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Mr Ch. Vidyasagara Rao.

She said coffee cultivation had taken root in Araku, Paderu and Chintapalli areas of Visakhapatam district and Maredumilli of East Godavari district. It was being cultivated in 23,559 hectares in the four areas, the annual production being 2,984 tonnes.

She said the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Paderu, was the nodal agency for the promotion of coffee cultivation in the area, and the Coffee Board would assist the ITDA in its endeavour. "The target is to cover 24,000 hectares during the Tenth Plan period," she said.

Ms Venkatachalam said the Coffee Board was organising a seminar in Bangalore on February 14 to educate doctors and others in the medical field on the medicinal properties of coffee and how it would prevent the incidence of certain types of cancer, besides removing toxins from the system.

She said Telugu actress Soundarya, also a member of the Coffee Board, would participate in the Coffee Utsav on Monday.

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