Madikeri: International Coffee Day was celebrated at Dubare in Kodagu on Oct. 1 and several coffee products were exhibited during the festival. The event was jointly organised by Kodagu Coffee Awareness Union and Karnataka Planters’ Association. In Madikeri too, several organisations served coffee to tourists at Raja’s Seat.

Starting Sept. 29 and culminating on Oct. 1, the 77 Member States of the International Coffee Organisation and dozens of Coffee Associations from around the globe came together to celebrate the third Annual International Coffee Day. International Coffee Day is a global celebration of coffee’s journey from the farm to your local shop — an opportunity to honour the men and women who grow and harvest the coffee we love.

At the inaugural ceremony, Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Richard Vincent D’Souza offered vital tips to all stakeholders to promote coffee in order to increase the internal demand for the beverage among tourists when they step inside the land of coffee. “Despite growing the best coffee, Kodagu district has lagged behind in satisfying customers. Excellent agricultural output must complement demand generation where every tourist shows inclination to sipping a cup of coffee while forgetting everything else on the table.”

Madikeri Deputy Conservator of Forests Suryasen opined that planters in Kodagu must dissuade from cutting jungles and grow coffee. “We must understand the fragile ecosystem of Kodagu and we must learn to live with the nature. Projects like Railway line and high-tension power line and National Highways will spell doom for the district and at the same time they will also destroy coffee plantation,” he opined.

Suryasen suggested the coffee growers not to buckle under pressure from timber lobby and destroy the forests. “In-house consumption of coffee has not touched the desired levels in spite of getting good yield.     When one sips quality coffee in a conducive atmosphere that exists in this hilly district, he/ she will rate coffee over honey as a healthy beverage.”

Appangala Spices Board Scientist Ankegowda felt that coffee was a healthy beverage and the government should include it in profitable crops list. He explained the benefits of chicory-less coffee.

President of Kodagu Coffee Awareness Union Pandikuthira Chitra Subbaiah listed the achievements of the Union since inception in 2003 with 403 members in list. Treasurer of the Union Bhavana Praveen rued over the impact of concretisation of coffee plantations, referring to innumerable resorts and home stays. A large number of home- makers were among the gathering. General Secretary of the Union Appaneravanda Anita Nanda, Joint Secretary Jyuthika, senior citizen Pattada Ranu Madappa, District President of Karnataka Planters’ Association Nandineravanda Dinesh, Secretary Shivashankar, Organising Secretary Cheppudira Satish and others were present.