Coffee agri fest, convention on Jan 15

Karnataka Growers’ Federation president B S Jairam said the ‘Coffee Krishi Mela – Coffee Sammelana’, a coffee agricultural fair and coffee convention, will be held on January 15 at the Zilla Vokkaligara Samudaya Bhavana in Vijayapura.

Jairam told reporters on Thursday, that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will inaugurate the programme. “Union Minister for Commerce Suresh Prabhu will launch the ‘Hill-branded Coffee'. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the coffee convention,” he said.

“Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda will release the souvenir. PWD Minister H D Revanna will launch the website. Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh will inaugurate a premier exhibition. Local MP Shobha Karandlaje will launch coffee wine and other bi-products of coffee," he listed out.

District In-charge Minister K J George, Revenue Minister R V Deshpande, Cooperation Minister Bandeppa Kashampur and MP Pratap Simha will take part in the programme.

‘Stop import of coffee’

Jairam stated that the government has ordered the formation of a task force and demanded a report on the ground situation of coffee growers.

He, meanwhile, urged the government to take measures to implement minimum support price for coffee. “The growers are not benefiting from the provision of Rs 500 minimum import duty for a kg of coffee, as adulteration of coffee has not stopped. The government should stop import of coffee,” he demanded.