It’s forced time-out in the cradle of Indian hockey

General Thimmayya Stadium, a multi-purpose facility, in Madikeri wears a deserted look.
General Thimmayya Stadium, a multi-purpose facility, in Madikeri wears a deserted look.

The COVID-19 scare has cast its shadow on the cradle of the Indian hockey

Kodagu comes alive in April and May when scores of families vie for the top honours in the famed Hockey Utsava, which goes for weeks.

Mukkateera Kodava Hockey Utsava has been suspended, said Mukkateera Hockey Namme President Mukkateera Chotu Uthaiah.

The Shantheyanda Hockey Utsava was held at FMC maidan in Madikeri in 2016, Biddatanda Utsava in 2017 and Kulletira Hockey Utsava was held in 2018. The Harihara Mukkateera Hockey Utsava in 2019 was cancelled due to flash floods.

This year, Mukkateera family had planned to hold the Hockey Utsava at Balagodu maidan in Virajpet taluk from April 17. But, owing to the COVID-19 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the annual event has been suspended.

Biddatanda Tammaiah, a hockey buff, said, “Hockey tourney among Kodava families is organised to bring all Kodava families under one platform and also to unearth budding talent in the region. The tournament has been deferred due to the COVID-19 outbreak.”

Apart from hockey, the cricket tournament by Arebhashe community, Kodagu Gowda football tournament and other kreedotsavas, organised in April and May, are also hit.

Yarava sports meet in Gonikoppa, Marata Kreedotsava at Moornadu, Muslim Football Tournament, cricket tournament and Tulu sports meet also face uncertainty.

The lockdown has affected the Kodava Open Badminton Tournament organised by Napoklu Kodava Samaja Sports, Cultural and Recreation Association on April 10, 11 and 12. Hockey stadiums and grounds come to life in summer in Kodgau. In fact that is the only window, Kodavas get to showcase their talent. Monsoon brings sporting activity to a halt in the region which witnesses heavy rainfall.

“Owing to the lockdown, we cannot venture out to practice. Once the region gets showers, we cannot practice. How can we maintain fitness?” laments Rathan, an athlete.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports / by Adithya K A / DHNS / March 30th, 2020

Activists urge to retain 3 GPs in Somwarpet

Office-bearers of Somwarpet Taluk Abhivruddhi Horata Samiti submit a memorandumto Deputy Commissioner Annies Kamani Joy.
Office-bearers of Somwarpet Taluk Abhivruddhi Horata Samiti submit a memorandumto Deputy Commissioner Annies Kamani Joy.

Office-bearers of Somwarpet Taluk Abhivruddhi Horata Samiti submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy urging to retain Madapura, Garvale and Haraduru Gram Panchayats in Somwarpet taluk.

The members expressed their discomfort on the omitting of three Gram Panchayats from Somwarpet in the map prepared by the revenue department.

Somwarpet Taluk Abhivruddhi Horata Samiti president M B Abhimanyukumar said that the process is on carve out Kushalnagar taluk from Somwarpet taluk.

Earlier, it was decided to declare the region comprising Garvale, Madapura and Haraduru as Madapur hobli. But, as it was concluded that a new hobli will not be formed, it has now been decided that the three Gram Panchayats will be retained with Suntikoppa hobli. However, the GPs will be part of Kushalnagar taluk according to the recent decision, which is not correct, the activists said.

This will create a huge inconvenience to the people from these three villages, in terms of trade and government works.

Somwarpet Taluk Abhivruddhi Horata Samiti general convener S Mahesh said that Garvale, Madapura and Haraduru panchayats should be clubbed into a separate hobli and should be called as Madapur hobli.

ZP vice president Lokeshwari Gopal, association general secretary K N Deepak, vice president B B Satish, treasurer Muralidhar, office bearers Bharat Kumar and Kavitha Viroopaksha were present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / March 03rd, 2020

Tata Coffee launches e-commerce platform to promote India’s finest reserve single origin specialty coffees

Tata Coffee Limited, a subsidiary company of Tata Consumer Products Limited announced the launch of its e- commerce platform www.coffeesonnets.com.

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The website debuts with three unique variants of luxury single origin specialty coffee named ‘The Sonnets – Voice of Our Estates.’ Through this online platform, Tata Coffee aims to make its finest estate coffees available to consumers across India. These single estate coffees are processed uniquely with great care, undergoing intense sensorial evaluations by expert tasters. Only the finest and the rarest coffees are carefully selected to be used in The Sonnets range of coffees, showcased this season.

The coffees are directly sourced from two of Tata Coffee’s 19 estates located in Coorg region of Karnataka. These estates- Goorghuly and Woshully are recognized for growing some of the best Arabica Coffees in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Chacko Thomas, MD & CEO, Tata Coffee Limited, said, “The Sonnets-The voice of our estates’ aims to give coffee lovers across the country access to some of our finest estates’ coffees through our e-commerce platform. Each variant in these reserve single origin handpicked coffees belong to a single estate and are not a blend. Since they are grown in specific regions using unique processing techniques, this makes them special and truly limited-edition coffees. The Sonnets promise a once in a lifetime sensory experience in a cup.”

The Sonnets come in three different flavors and roast profiles (light roasted, medium roasted and medium-dark roasted) Gold Honey, Red Honey and Yellow Honey.

The e-commerce site www.coffeesonnets.com is designed to give customers a smooth buying experience of these luxury coffees in a few simple steps. The homepage introduces the customers to Tata Coffee and its 100 years of heritage, has comprehensive information on the products, links to latest blog posts and stories from the estates and other relevant information pertaining to online purchases.

source: http://www.indiaretailing.com / Progressive Grocer India/ Home> Food> Food & Grocery> Retail Hub / by India Retailing Bureau / March 05th, 2020

India’s coffee-growing tradition thrives with new gourmet producers

Family tragedy prompted Kambihalli Estate’s revival in Karnataka

In addition to growing coffee, the women of Kambihalli Estate also run Halli Berri cottages, a luxe homestay. (Christabel Lobo)
In addition to growing coffee, the women of Kambihalli Estate also run Halli Berri cottages, a luxe homestay. (Christabel Lobo)

When Nalima Kariappa took over the day-to-day management of her family’s 200-acre coffee estate in Chikmagalur, in the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka, after her husband’s death in 2007, she never imagined just how far the family business would come.

“Frankly, I wanted to close and go after my husband was diagnosed with cancer. At the point that he was preparing the estate’s affairs, we had decided that we would sell and go settle in Mysore or Coorg,” says Nalima. “But toward the end, I think he got emotional and sentimental and said no.”

Nestled in the foothills of the Baba Budangiri mountain range, the Chikmagalur district is a densely forested region in which coffee plants flourish. Legend has it that Baba Budan, a revered Sufi ascetic, smuggled seven unroasted seeds of the coffee plant from Mocha in Yemen on his journey back to India in 1670. Until then, coffee cultivation was exclusive to the Middle East and the sale of seeds was strictly forbidden; only roasted or ground beans could be exported.

Baba Budan’s first coffee farm started a practice in India that thrives in estates like Nalima’s Kambihalli centuries later. Today, the state of Karnataka is the largest producer of coffee in the country, with Chikmagalur the second most productive district in India, growing an estimated 78,000 tons of coffee in 2018-19.

While most of India’s coffee estates are now owned by large corporations, a few still belong to families like the Kariappas, who are hoping to keep the tradition alive.

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Top: Nestled in the foothills of the Baba Budangiri mountain range, the lush estate also grows Areca palms, cinnamon and cardamom plants. Middle: A sign for Coffee Barn Cafe, a casual spot along the main road run by the Kariappa women. Bottom: Lucky, one of the estate's two guard dogs, takes a mid-afternoon nap. (Top photo courtesy of Halli Berri; middle and bottom photos Christabel Lobo)
Top: Nestled in the foothills of the Baba Budangiri mountain range, the lush estate also grows Areca palms, cinnamon and cardamom plants. Middle: A sign for Coffee Barn Cafe, a casual spot along the main road run by the Kariappa women. Bottom: Lucky, one of the estate’s two guard dogs, takes a mid-afternoon nap. (Top photo courtesy of Halli Berri; middle and bottom photos Christabel Lobo)

In 1948, after cashing out of his inheritance, the grandfather of CP Kariappa, Nalima’s husband, moved from his hill station hometown of Kodagu, formerly known as Coorg, and headed north to Chikmagalur, where he purchased 40-50 acres of lush, fecund land to open the Kambihalli Estate.

Named after the iron-rich soil that the area is known for — kambi is iron in the local Kannada language, halli means village — the estate grew over the years to its current size of almost 180 acres.

As a result of her husband’s untimely death, Nalima and her three daughters — Maanavi, Anusha and Tejini — found their way along an uncharted path. In 2008, they opened the Coffee Barn Cafe, a casual spot along the main road for travelers. It was around the same time that they had their coffee beans certified by the Rainforest Alliance, an international nonprofit focused on ensuring that farmers meet adequate international standards of environmental, social and economic sustainability.

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Top: A permanent worker deftly picks cherries. Kambihalli has a permanent workforce of approximately five people that work year-round. Middle: Ripened robusta cherries ready to be picked during harvest. Bottom: Fresh-brewed cups of coffee are not the only thing on Coffee Barn Cafe’s menu. Customer favorites include their homemade cheesecake and cookies. (Top and middle photos Christabel Lobo; bottom photo courtesy of Halli Berri)
Top: A permanent worker deftly picks cherries. Kambihalli has a permanent workforce of approximately five people that work year-round. Middle: Ripened robusta cherries ready to be picked during harvest. Bottom: Fresh-brewed cups of coffee are not the only thing on Coffee Barn Cafe’s menu. Customer favorites include their homemade cheesecake and cookies. (Top and middle photos Christabel Lobo; bottom photo courtesy of Halli Berri)

In 1948, after cashing out of his inheritance, the grandfather of CP Kariappa, Nalima’s husband, moved from his hill station hometown of Kodagu, formerly known as Coorg, and headed north to Chikmagalur, where he purchased 40-50 acres of lush, fecund land to open the Kambihalli Estate.

Named after the iron-rich soil that the area is known for — kambi is iron in the local Kannada language, halli means village — the estate grew over the years to its current size of almost 180 acres.

As a result of her husband’s untimely death, Nalima and her three daughters — Maanavi, Anusha and Tejini — found their way along an uncharted path. In 2008, they opened the Coffee Barn Cafe, a casual spot along the main road for travelers. It was around the same time that they had their coffee beans certified by the Rainforest Alliance, an international nonprofit focused on ensuring that farmers meet adequate international standards of environmental, social and economic sustainability.

KambihalliEstate04aKF27mar2020

Top: The 200-acre estate offers well-marked trails, many that run along the river, for visitors to explore. Bottom: Manual sorting for underripe or overripe cherries is always carried out before the day’s harvest can be weighed and processed. (Christabel Lobo)
Top: The 200-acre estate offers well-marked trails, many that run along the river, for visitors to explore. Bottom: Manual sorting for underripe or overripe cherries is always carried out before the day’s harvest can be weighed and processed. (Christabel Lobo)

India is one of several countries where coffee plants grow under the shade of a verdant rainforest canopy. These trees not only prevent soil erosion but provide an additional source of income for coffee farmers — intercropping with pepper vines, areca palms, cardamom, cinnamon and orange trees is common practice.

The canopy promotes a thriving and diverse ecosystem for wild animals and birds to inhabit. Sambar deer, leopards, peacocks, wild boar, giant flying squirrels and 32 species of migratory birds call the Kambihalli Estate home.

During harvest season, typically December to March, the estate is abuzz with activity from dawn till dusk. Contract workers begin hand-picking ripened berries, commonly known as coffee cherries, averaging approximately 1,000 kg per day. This cumbersome process begins after green, unripe cherries from arabica coffee plants have turned a bright or dark red color, signaling peak ripeness.

KambihalliEstate05aKF27mar2020

Top: The skin and pulp collected during processing ends up in a huge pile that is eventually converted into manure used to fertilize the soil for next year’s harvest. Bottom: Separated coffee beans are left to dry out in the sun for several days before they can be de-hulled and sent off-site to be roasted and packaged. (Christabel Lobo)
Top: The skin and pulp collected during processing ends up in a huge pile that is eventually converted into manure used to fertilize the soil for next year’s harvest. Bottom: Separated coffee beans are left to dry out in the sun for several days before they can be de-hulled and sent off-site to be roasted and packaged. (Christabel Lobo)

Once picked, the ripe cherries are immediately processed to ensure quality and freshness. Unripe or overripe ones are separated by hand before the day’s harvest can be weighed. Kambihalli makes use of the wet-process method, separating the beans from the skin. This results in a cleaner coffee that is fruitier in flavor, and overall is a less labor- and resource-intensive process.

The skin and pulp collected during the process are eventually converted into manure and used to fertilize the soil for another year of growth. The separated coffee beans, now referred to as washed, are then left to dry in the sun for several days. Finally, they go through hulling, where the dried husks are removed before being sent off-site, where they are graded, roasted, powdered and packaged.

Kambihalli sells its robusta beans in the wholesale market, while its arabica beans are marketed as Halli Berri, which plays on the term “coffee berry.” (It is not meant to have any connection with the actor Halle Berry.) Served throughout the estate and sold at their on-site cafe, a freshly brewed cup of Halli Berri’s single origin ground coffee has a slightly acidic flavor profile with notes of cinnamon, citrus and nuts — all thanks to the iron-rich soil and intercropped plants.

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Top: Kambihalli uses a wet-process method to separate the beans from the skin. The day’s harvest, after being weighed, passes through the pulping room where the bean is separated from the skin and pulp. Bottom: The machine used to separate the coffee bean from its skin and pulp. (Christabel Lobo)
Top: Kambihalli uses a wet-process method to separate the beans from the skin. The day’s harvest, after being weighed, passes through the pulping room where the bean is separated from the skin and pulp. Bottom: The machine used to separate the coffee bean from its skin and pulp. (Christabel Lobo)

It has not been easy, of course. Infestation by white stem borers, pests notorious for attacking the stems of arabica plants, early on in Nalima’s tenure led to a drastic decrease in annual coffee production, which she says is just now starting to recover.

“From 10 loads — each load is 10 tons — we’ve gone down very drastically to producing just three loads,” she says, attributing it to her lack of experience in coffee farming. “We lost a lot of acreage to the infestation. As a result, we had to cut everything down and start planting robusta instead.”

Today, Kambihalli grows an equal amount of robusta and arabica coffee plants; arabica ripens faster and tastes better but robusta is more resilient to insect attacks. According to the Rainforest Alliance, diversification is the key to helping farmers protect themselves from market volatility and the increasing effects of climate change.

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Top: Fruit from the local farmers market is used to make the selection of seasonal fresh juices on offer at Coffee Barn Cafe. Middle: The colonial-style cottages at Halli Berri are bright, TV-free spaces with distinct handmade Athangudi-tiled floors. Bottom: A cozy private veranda overlooks the verdant rainforest canopy with the Baba Budangiri mountain range in view in the distance. (Top photo Christabel Lobo; middle and bottom photos courtesy of Halli Berri)
Top: Fruit from the local farmers market is used to make the selection of seasonal fresh juices on offer at Coffee Barn Cafe. Middle: The colonial-style cottages at Halli Berri are bright, TV-free spaces with distinct handmade Athangudi-tiled floors. Bottom: A cozy private veranda overlooks the verdant rainforest canopy with the Baba Budangiri mountain range in view in the distance. (Top photo Christabel Lobo; middle and bottom photos courtesy of Halli Berri)

Charan Kumar of the Indian Coffee Board says that while most of the coffee made in the Chikmagalur region is exported, the board is pleased Kambihalli chooses to sell its arabica within the country. However, “As India currently stands fifth in terms of worldwide coffee production, many [producers] still choose to sell directly to the wholesale market for a guaranteed source of income.”

Halli Berri is also the name of the luxe homestay which the Kariappa women run on-site. “Whenever relatives came, or guests came, we would put them up there, and they would love it,” says Nalima of the colonial-style cottages with rustic details and antique furnishings initially built for her daughter Anusha. “People started asking to book rooms, and I said, ‘Why don’t we just start doing that?'”

In 2010 they converted part of the property into a getaway for up to 18 guests, which is not just TV- and WiFi-free but emphasizes sustainability: Solar lights are used on the garden pathways at night, while the bathrooms utilize recycled water and are stocked with homemade soaps, shampoos and shower gels.

A series of trails through the expansive property offers visitors a chance to be mindful — the only guaranteed sounds are of the birds playfully chirping, frogs croaking, brooks babbling and the wind rushing through the treetops.

“I never even thought that we would make it this far,” Nalima says with a sigh as she reflects on Kambihalli’s success. “I’ll admit I was a little bit weary. But thanks to the support of our family and through word-of-mouth, we’ve made it work.”

As harvest season comes to a close, Nalima’s plans for the year include a focus on bean specialty and taste. “If we put a little more effort into the use of organic fertilizers, we found that we’re getting a better taste that our customers thoroughly appreciate. So even if I am a little brand, my coffee can be far superior, which I think is the way forward for us.”

source: http://www.asia.nikkei.com / Nikkon Asia Review / Home> Life / by Christobal Lobo, Contributing Writer / March 25th, 2020

Graduation Day

The 13th Graduation Day of St. Maria Montessori, Kindergarten and Nursery Teacher Training Institute, Kalidasanagar, will be held at Ganabharathi on Adichunchanagiri Road in city on Mar. 7 at 4 pm.

Kodava Samaja President K.M. Belliappa will inaugurate. Dr. M.P. Raghavendra of Maharani’s Science College for Women will be the guest speaker.

Former Director of the Centre for Soft Matter Research-Bengaluru Prof. K.A. Suresh will preside.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / March 05th, 2020

Coorg Wildlife Society Hon. Treasurer Resigns

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Madikeri:

Coorg Wildlife Society (CWS) Hon. Treasurer C.S. Poovaiah, has tendered his resignation from the post over violations of the Society bylaws by certain individuals in CWS.

In his letter to the President of CWS dated Feb. 18, 2020, Poovaiah has stated, “It is with anguish and a heavy heart I am writing this letter to you. As per the bylaw, the Secretary is responsible for administration and approving the bills of CWS and hence prudently has not authorised him to sign cheques on behalf of CWS to avoid conflict of interest. The bylaw authorises only the President or the Executive Vice-President and Hon. Treasurer to sign cheques (the signature of the Treasurer is mandatory) to prevent any financial fraud.”

Continuing, he has stated that the malafide approval given at the AGM to pay Rs. 90,000 to Col. C.P. Muthanna, former CWS President, towards his lawyer’s fees for his personal Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the High Court much against the written disapproval of such payments by the auditors shows favouritism and cronyism.

Poovaiah said that the urgency in which the cheque for Rs. 90,000 was given to Col. Muthanna within a few hours after the AGM, without preparing the minutes of the AGM and without consulting the Treasurer and without obtaining the signature of the Treasurer, is a gross violation of all financial norms and the bylaws of CWS.

Pointing out that his complaint was treated very casually, Poovaiah has stated that CWS is being run as per the whims and fancies of a few individuals in CWS.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 04th, 2020

Mrinal Sharma: Smelling Coffee With Finesse

Belonging to an agrarian economy, it has always been one of our core visions to put Indian coffee farmers on the map, while taking the hospitality experience in the world of coffee to a new height.

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AN ODE TO BABA BUDAN , a 16th-century Sufi saint, Baba’s Beans was founded by Mrinal Sharma along with her friend Sadhavi Sharma. Their mutual addiction for coffee and a desire to build something of their own brought them together to start Baba’s Beans. They have created a niche market for their brand while curating bespoke FnB experiences. The company sources coffee from Coorg and Chikmagalur in Karnataka.

The duo through their effort to understand the coffee making, have created a market opportunity to add a speciality offering for their customers at an extremely low cost. “Our value chain is designed on the imperative of delivering a quality lifestyle product; impregnated with finesse in flavour, adventure in the cup and sustainability in its long-term impact on the society,” says Sharma.

Baba’s Beans bootstrapped themselves since the inception, Mrinal says, “We have carved out a niche for Indian coffee experiences in the hospitality industry through our coffee bars. We have helped our collaborating hotels realize the untouched potential for an increase in revenues and profitability.” She also emphasizes that Baba’s Beans as a brand fills gaps throughout the supply chain of the high-value commodity.

“Belonging to an agrarian economy, it has always been one of our core visions to put Indian coffee farmers on the map, while taking the hospitality experience in the world of coffee to a new height,” adds Sharma.

Baba’s Beans offers to curate a value added portfolio addition to hotels to create a meaningful impact on the agricultural scope of the humble coffee bean in India, says Sharma. The company has been growing at an annual growth rate of 30 per cent since 2017.

Mrinal says that as she belongs to an agrarian economy, her vision culminates in the trade of one of the finest crops grown in India. “From the beginning, we were sure that we will deal only in Indian Coffees because this provide us with a realm of infinite possibilities that unfold themselves gradually.” Coffeehouse in earlier times was an assembly point for likeminded people, a perfect atmosphere for intellectual debate, adds Mrinal.

While the coffee company has made good progress in the B2B side of the business, including the supply of coffee to cafes, bars and niche events and forums across the national capital region. However, leaving no stone unturned, Mrinal adds that they are also selling through e-commerce portals and few social media platforms. “Each of our products like the Roaster Booster blend showcases the fine art of roasting, which is not the highest elevation coffee but is a good cup of strong everyday coffee,” specifies Mrinal. The future endeavours include expanding across Delhi along with the introduction of newer tastes and concoctions in the northern region of India.

source: http://www.businessworld.com / Business World / Home / by BW Online Bureau / March 24th, 2020

Nagaland coffee gets positive review from SA experts

Dr. Pieter Vermeulen, left, and Neiba Kronu during an interaction with media persons on Wednesday in Kohima.
Dr. Pieter Vermeulen, left, and Neiba Kronu during an interaction with media persons on Wednesday in Kohima.

Kohima (EMN):

According to a coffee connoisseur, coffee from Nagaland has a ‘unique taste’ and if produced on a large scale, it has the potential to ‘achieve sustainable income for years as well as shape country’s economy.’

Nagaland coffee is grown in the jungles and absorbs a natural environment of forest filled with wild berries, rich soil, and trees, making the coffee flavour unique, said Dr. Pieter Vermeulen, a coffee expert from South Africa and founder of Naga Coffee Private Limited.

Interacting with media persons on Wednesday in Kohima, he said Nagaland coffee is coming in at the right time when production worldwide is decreasing. Due to Climate Change, a lot of coffee producing countries have opted for alternative plantations instead of coffee. Nonetheless, the demand for crop worldwide is “very high,” particularly in the European and Arab countries, Vermeulen said.

He urged farmers of the state to seriously take up coffee plantation as it will give a sustainable income from the next few years of their planting. Further, growing coffee will produce work for other people thereby creating employment opportunities. He called upon the educated unemployed youths to start coffee enterprises.

Unlike other perishable products from Nagaland, the lifespan of coffee is very long, he said. A raw coffee can be kept up to a year while the processed coffee can last for two years. As for the coffee, he said to have established infrastructure and had exported them as well. In fact, his company can process 20 tonnes of coffee per week. As a company, he said to be ready to receive coffee.

The only challenge is that there is not enough coffee in the state and the company needs more. Therefore, he encouraged people to start planting quality coffee.

Speaking on customers’ point of view, the coffee connoisseur said people look for specific things when buying coffee. Being organic and being sustainable and unique are some of the key qualities buyers look forward to. According to him, all these qualities are found in Nagaland coffee.

Unlike in South America where people cut forests to plant coffee, farmers in Nagaland preserve forest and plant coffee, which is sustainable and nature-friendly, he said. Concerning the variety of coffee in the state, he said each region has a different taste because of the climate differences.

Earlier, the minister for Planning and Coordination, Land Revenue, and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu said Nagaland can produce “speciality grade coffee” and had encouraged people of Nagaland to grow coffee.

In the past, there were no experiments and farmers were asked to grow randomly, which at times discouraged farmers. However, the situation is different now; things are being experimented and studied, he added.

The Land Resource department of Nagaland in collaboration with the Coffee Board of India has assisted farmers to develop around 1816.2 hectares during 2019-20 in the state. Presently, the area that has coffee plantation stands at 7996.2 hectares covering eleven districts of Nagaland.

The Naga Coffee Private Limited, with its holding company Noble Cause Private Limited based in South Africa, was started in 2016. It has a standing Memorandum of Understanding with the Land Resources department of Nagaland to processes and export coffee to the global market for 30 years.

According to the department 27.5 metric tonnes of raw coffee beans were exported till 2019, while 18 metric tonnes of roasted coffee have been exported so far.

source: http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com / Eastern Mirror / Home> Kohima / by Eastern Mirror / March 06th, 2020

Elected To Kodagu Sahakara Sangha

The following members were elected as office-bearers and Directors of Kodagu Sahakara Sangha, Mysuru, for the period 2020 – 2025:

President – A.C Nanjamma (Chambanda); Vice – President – Munjandira A. Ravi; Treasurer- Byrettira K. Ganapathy; Executive Director- Ponjanda Lovely Appaiah; and Directors – Ponnimada K. Biddappa, Munjandira G. Devaiah, Ittira G. Kashiappa, Thathanda M. Bheemaiah, Kandanda Bose Achaiah, Meederira K. Prakash, Mukkatira C. Aiyappa, Chendanda S. Nirmala and Ittira Jyothi Kashiappa, according to a press release from the Sangha.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / March 07th, 2020

Lake Bridge Capital, and Fengate Asset Management announce the sale of NRStor C&I, a leading distributed energy platform

Toronto, Canada :

Lake Bridge Capital, Inc. (“Lake Bridge”) and Fengate Asset Management (“Fengate”) announced the sale today of NRStor C&I L.P. (“NRStor C&I”) to funds managed by Blackstone Energy Partners.

NRStor C&I is a leading Toronto-based developer of battery storage solutions, targeting scale storage deployment opportunities within the commercial and industrial sector in North America. A pioneer in the rapidly growing energy storage market, NRStor C&I provides solutions to customers across North America. A former subsidiary of NRStor Inc., it has over 200MWh of operational, in construction and contracted projects. Lake Bridge Capital was the seed investor in NRStor Inc. and the majority investor in NRStor C&I.

“It is gratifying to see the momentum that NRStor C&I has achieved,” said Sarita Mandanna, Managing Partner, Lake Bridge Capital. “The company’s growth underlines the need for innovative energy solutions. The scale and resources of its new partner will only escalate its progress, and I wish the team every success.” Joe Cashion, Managing Partner at Lake Bridge Capital, added “We’re thrilled that the NRStor C&I team has partnered with Blackstone for the next stage of delivering sustainable energy solutions across North America.”

Marathon Capital, LLC served as advisor to NRStor C&I, Fengate and Lake Bridge. McCarthy Tetrault LLP and Torys LLP served as legal counsel to NRStor C&I, Fengate and Lake Bridge.

About Lake Bridge Capital
Lake Bridge Capital is an investment management company focused on growth capital investments. Headquartered in Toronto, the company has a global portfolio, investing in entrepreneurs and technologies across a range of industries, and in both primary and secondary transactions

About NRstor C&I
Established in late 2016, NRStor C&I L.P.is a turn-key energy-as-a-service provider to commercial, industrial and institutional customers as well as utilities across North America. With energy storage being a focal point of its offering, NRStor C&I provides its services under a turn-key build, own, and operate business model where no-capital outlay or operational expertise is required from the customer. NRStor C&I offers stand-alone, renewable coupled energy storage systems, as well as microgrids which are centrally managed through its state-of-the-art operational platform.

source: http://www.finance.yahoo.com / Yahoo Finance / Home / Toronto / by PR Newswire / March 06th, 2020