Focus on origin, quality for better global standing, Piyush Goyal urges coffee community

The Coffee Board of India has taken sustained initiatives in promoting Indian coffee in domestic as well as global markets, and from now on, more thrust should be given to identity (estate origin) and quality of coffees, said Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry.

He was speaking at the opening session of the centenary celebration of Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) at Balehonnur in Chikkamagaluru district on December 20.

Appreciating the Coffee Board’s contribution towards the growth of the commodity over several decades, Mr. Goyal said that India, being the fifth-largest producer and the third-largest exporter of coffee, has a good standing in the global coffee market.

On the economic impact of coffee, the Minister said that 80% of India’s coffee production is exported to 120 countries, supporting approximately over two million families in India and contributing around ₹20,000 crore to the economy.

Addressing an audience comprising ministers, ambassadors, coffee farmers, processors, startups, and researchers at CCRI via video, the Minister said, “There is a critical need to secure the unique identity of Indian coffee and celebrate its indigenous origin. This requires applying quality practices from the land level itself. Quality will help it cross international boundaries easily,” the Minister said.

Acknowledging CCRI’s contributions in the last 100 years or so, Mr. Goyal said the planters’ community, coffee industry, and government should look forward to its role in the next century as a leader responsible for developing more climate-resilient and sturdy coffee varieties.

Mr. Goyal also called for continued efforts in protecting the environment, preserving biodiversity, and maintaining soil quality, ensuring that coffee plantations continue to yield good quality coffee.

Speaking on the occasion, K.J. George, Minister for Energy and district in-charge Minister of Chikkamagaluru, said coffee cultivation in Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, and Hassan, as well as the overall role of these coffee heartlands have been playing a critical role in bringing global recognition to Indian coffee growers.

Two new coffee varieties launched

The Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) at Balehonnur, Chikkmagaluru, as part of its centenary celebrations, introduced two new arabica coffee varieties that are high-yielding and tolerant to white stem borer (WSB) and leaf rust disease.

Releasing the new varieties, Union Minister for Consumers Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi stressed the need to do good marketing of Indian coffees, while exploring the market both in the country and abroad. To extend the acceptability of Indian coffees, there is a need for production of good quality and residue-free coffees while improving the packaging and skills, he said.

According to several planters, the new varieties are available at a time when coffee growers are increasingly facing climate-related challenges including erratic rainfall and a huge rise in the incidence of pests and diseases such as white stem borer and leaf rust, among others, which have brought down the arabica yield.

The CCRI, established in 1925 and currently situated on a sprawling 280 acres, has so far released 13 varieties of arabica and three robusta selections. Coffee Board Chairman M.J. Dinesh said CCRI holds a unique position globally in coffee research.