Tribal coffee farmers to benefit from price hike

The Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) in Visakhapatnam has announced an increase in coffee procurement prices for the 2024-25 season, a move aimed at improving the livelihoods of tribal coffee farmers amid growing global demand. The new rates are Rs 285 per kg for both Arabica parchment and Arabica cherry, and Rs 150 per kg for Robusta cherry, up from last season’s Rs 280, Rs 145, and Rs 70, respectively. The equal pricing for Arabica varieties marks a notable improvement.
Kalpana Kumari, Vice-Chairperson and Managing Director of the GCC, stressed the importance of these revisions for tribal farmers’ welfare. “The increase in purchase prices is directly aimed at improving the livelihoods of our tribal coffee growers,” she said. “We are determined to ensure that no farmer in the Paderu Agency sells their coffee for less than the announced rates. Our team will make every effort to educate the farmers on the new prices and assist them in maximising their income.”
The GCC has introduced several initiatives to further streamline the coffee procurement process. Staff will visit remote areas to collect coffee directly from farmers’ doorsteps using electronic weighing machines for accuracy. Payments will be deposited into the farmers’ bank accounts within 24 hours.
Last year, the GCC collected 565 metric tonnes of coffee from tribal farmers. This season, the target has been set at 2,000 metric tonnes. “We are confident that this target can be achieved through collaborative efforts and the support of tribal communities,” Kumari added.
The meeting was attended by Director of the Tribal Welfare Department S Bhargavi, ITDA Paderu Project Officer V Abhishek, Coffee Board of India representative Dr. DR Babu Reddy, and Araku MLA Regam Matsya Lingam. They discussed strategies to boost coffee production and ensure that tribals reap the full benefits of the revised pricing structure.