Tribal women's groups qualify for global award

Visakhapatnam, Apr 26 : Tribals belonging to two women's organisations in this district will soon be on the world map for their commitment and sheer determination in successfully producing coffee, which is on par with the best international brands.

In the annual Cupping Competition 'Flavour of India-The Fine Cup - Award 2006', organised by the Coffee Board recently, tribal growers of Visakhapatnam agency areas surprised several corporate houses and MNCs by qualifying for the final round of the prestigious award, with aromatic coffee grown in GK Veedhi and Chintapally mandals.

Of 10 coffee samples sent from Andhra Pradesh for competition, five samples raised by tribal coffee growers of the two mandals were selected. From all over India, 199 samples were sent for the competition, including coffee from Tatas, Birlas, Nestle and Barista plantations.

Grama Devata Mahila Sangham of Vasuvada village in GK Veedi and Jhansi Mahila Sangham of Chintapalli with outstanding quality coffee, got through two domestic rounds. The samples would now be displayed at Berne in Switzerland at a conference and exhibition of Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE), next month.

The final round of the Cupping Competition would be decided by an international jury at the conference, in which 1,000 delegates were expected to take part.

Expressing happiness over the development, S Mushtaq, Deputy Director Coffee Board, Visakhapatnam extension office, said special efforts had been made to educate tribal coffee growers to produce quality parchment coffee of international standards.

Principal Secretary of Tribal Coffee Welfare, M Chhaya Ratan, had helped the women with funds by paying the entry fee for the Fine Cup Award. He hoped tribal coffee samples would win The Fine Cup-2006.

Explaining how sample selection was done, he said two rounds of domestic competition were conducted by an Indian jury at Bangalore, based on different parameters.

Ranking was done as per marks given. Out of 199 samples, 40 samples qualified for the third and final round to be held at Switzerland on May 17.

UNI