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Araku's Arabica roast coffee to get Geographical Indication

coffee-beans [File] Representative image

There is good news for lovers of the aromatic full bodied coffee, Arabica roast, grown in the Araku Valley in the Vishakapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh.

Even the MPs from the state protested that the Union budget 2018-19 had failed to give special allowances for Andhra Pradesh and obstructed parliamentary proceedings on Monday, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, C.R. Chaudhary told them that the Coffee Board of India has applied for registration of Araku coffee under Georgraphical Indications.

This will protect the unique identity of the coffee grown by the tribal communities of the Araku Valley. According to the minister, the production of this coffee which had grown very popular internationally, has been promoted through the “Integrated Coffee Development Project.”

The scheme includes extending financial support for replanting and expansion, creation of water harvesting and irrigation infrastructures and mechanisation of coffee estate operations. In the non-traditional areas, financial support is extended for consolidation of existing coffee plantations through gap fillings and application of compost. Technical assistance is also provided by organising capacity building programmes and field demonstrations.

The Coffee Board has developed exclusive logos for coffee grown in the country, based on their geographical distinctiveness and is providing incentives at Rs 10 per Kg for SHGs and grower collectives in Araku Valley.

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