Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 15: The government of Karnataka has sanctioned Rs 25 crore for the establishment of 2,500 coffee kiosks, branded as ‘Akka Cafe’, to be operated by women trained under Self-Help Groups (SHGs), large and medium industries Minister M B Patil announced.
Patil disclosed this after inaugurating the India International Coffee Festival organised by the Specialty Coffee Association of India (SCAI) at Palace Grounds in Bengaluru. initiative, he said, is aimed at strengthening the coffee value chain while promoting economic empowerment through employment generation.
The kiosks will be run by women trained under the SHG framework, providing them with entrepreneurial opportunities in the coffee retail sector.
The Coffee Board, in collaboration with the National Rural Livelihood Mission–Karnataka, is imparting training in coffee brewing, café management and entrepreneurship to one lakh women associated with SHGs across the State.
In addition, the government is extending scholarships to children of workers employed in coffee estates and large plantations in Kodagu district, according to the minister.
“It is encouraging to see that coffee growers themselves are branding and showcasing their produce at the festival,” Patil said. He pointed out that at the ‘Kala Loka’ outlet set up by the Industries Department at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, coffee is being showcased and sold alongside more than 45 other GI-tagged products from the State, featuring distinctive packaging and branding.
Coffee is cultivated across 2.2 lakh hectares in Karnataka, making it the largest producer in India. Nearly 75% of the country’s total coffee production originates from Hassan district, Kodagu district and Chikkamagaluru district.
The festival brought together growers, processors, exporters, roasters, café and hospitality service providers, equipment manufacturers, professionals and consumers under one roof, Patil noted, underscoring Karnataka’s pre-eminent position in India’s coffee sector.