“Spirit of Peace Ex-Combatants” from Colombia Named “Best of the Best” at the Fourth Annual Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award

October 18, 2019Coffee News, World Opinionadmin

Rwanda’s Ngamba Coffee Washing Station, represented by Ms. Celine Niwemugeni, awarded “Coffee Lover’s Choice” for second consecutive year

The Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award celebrates excellence in growing coffee beans of the highest quality through sustainable means to offer the best coffee to the world

New York :

illycaffè, the global leader in high-quality, sustainably grown coffee, announced ‘Spirit of Peace Ex-Combatants’ – Asacafè (represented by Carlos Arturo López Guarnizo and Oscar Rodrigo Campo Hurtado) is the “Best of the Best” at the fourth annual Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award, held yesterday night in New York City. An independent jury of 9 top culinary and coffee connoisseurs from around the world gathered on October 15 for a series of blind coffee tastings, brewed individually from the harvests of nine different countries, to thoughtfully determine the best bean of the 2018-2019 season.

Twenty-seven top grower representatives from the nine countries, including this year Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua and Rwanda, were recognized and celebrated in New York City for their sustainable quality. Each lot, before being examined by the independent jury in New York, was selected through intensive analysis at illy’s Quality Lab and then judged on aromatic richness/complexity, balance/elegance and aroma intensity/strength.

Carlos Arturo Lopez, Oscar Campo, Gerardo Montenegro, Andrea Illy, Anna Illy

“It is an honor and a pleasure to recognize Colombia, ‘Spirit of Peace’ and Asacafè for their achievement, as well as applaud all of our finalists who are focused on producing the highest-quality coffee through sustainable methods,” said Andrea Illy, Chairman of illycaffè. “This award celebrates and honors the Spirit of Peace project, that we supported since the very beginning, with the aim to give a chance to the rural Colombian community of coffee to become the engine of a bigger transformation through the economic reintegration of the ex-combatants and their victims in the Cauca region.”

A separate “Coffee Lover’s Choice” honor was awarded to Rwanda’s Ngamba Coffee Washing Station, represented by Ms. Celine Niwemugeni, for the second consecutive year.

The Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award, named after illycaffè’s visionary, second-generation leader, celebrates the company’s hand-in-hand work with farmers for nearly 30 years to offer the best sustainably grown coffee to the world, as well as its commitment to improving the wellbeing of the world’s coffee growers. The top growers in attendance also participated in a coffee-specific seminar hosted at the United Nations in New York by Chairman Andrea Illy and representatives from the ICO – International Coffee Organization, covering topics including best agronomical practices, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and long-term sustainability of the coffee sector.

The jury – a panel of tasting, culinary and coffee experts from around the world who took on the task of choosing this year’s “Best of the Best” bean – was comprised of:

Matthew Accarrino: Accarrino is the nationally recognized chef known for his unique culinary style drawn from his Italian heritage, personal experience and classical training. He was named a Star Chefs “2010 Rising Star,” a James Beard Foundation semi-finalist for “Best Chef: West” for four consecutive years, and Food & Wine’s “People’s Best Chef California” in 2013 and “Best New Chef” in 2014.

Jaquelin Adriana Mednilla de Águila: Aguila is QGrader and Barista from Anacafe Coffee School.

Victor Cadenas: Cadenas is a QGrader and professional coffee roaster in Costa Rica, roasting for Cup of Excellence for five years. He evaluates genetic materials and varieties for ICafe, Catie, World Coffee Research and others.

Berhanu Gezahegn: Gezahegn is Director of the Coffee Quality Inspection and Certification Center (CQICC) at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoANR) in Ethiopia. Previously, he served as its director for training and advisory service.

Anthony Giglio: Giglio is a writer, educator and storyteller focused on wine, spirits and other beverages. He writes a weekly “Wine Wise Guy” column for Food & Wine, is the wine reporter for CBS News Radio, and is a contributor for Departures, Esquire and other major media outlets. Additionally, he serves as Wine Director for The Centurion Lounge at LaGuardia airport.

Maria Loi: Loi is a Greek food ambassador, author and healthy lifestyle expert. She is a popular TV chef in Greece, and the author of more than 36 cookbooks and 150 magazine editions. She has been recognized as the Global Ambassador of Greek Gastronomy by The Chef’s Club of Greece and has since earned a reputation as the U.S. leader in authentic Greek cuisine.

Sunalini Menon: Menon is Asia’s first female professional in the field of coffee tasting, also known as coffee cupping. She has been called “Asia’s first lady of coffee.” Formerly, Menon was director of quality control for the Coffee Board of India, and founder of her own company, Coffee Labs, in Bangalore.

Spencer Turer: Turer is the Director of Coffee Operations at Coffee Enterprises. He has dedicated his career to creating coffee quality and has become a pioneer for roaster certification. He is also a writer and technical editor for ROAST Magazine and Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.

Francesco Apreda: Apreda is a renowned Italian chef and recipient of a Michelin star, securing his status as a world-class chef. His talent lies in the ability to recreate a modern Italian cuisine full of flavors and turn them into incredible dishes for a sensory eating experience like no other.

The “Coffee Lover’s Choice” award, presented by illycaffè CEO Massimiliano Pogliani, was determined by a demanding jury of its own: more than 1,000 discerning visitors to flagship illy cafès locations in London, Milan, Paris, Shanghai and San Francisco.

“The Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award starts with the unique illy blend, developed consistently year after year, which gives us a deep knowledge of the coffee origins. We then combine this expertise with our direct sourcing model, working hand-in-hand with coffee growers to produce the highest quality Arabica beans sustainably,” said Massimiliano Pogliani, illycaffè CEO. “Coffee lovers and connoisseurs around the world are becoming more and more interested in learning and understanding not only about aromatic and taste profile typical of a specific terroir – very similarly to what happens int the wine world – but also how their coffee is produced and who produces it. This is the deep meaning of this Award, which wants to shorten the distance and bring together growers & consumers.”

Direct Sourcing Pioneering
The Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award is rooted in a program that illy established 28 years ago in Brazil, called Premio de Qualidade do Cafè para Espresso, that drove illy’s transformation to a company that today purchases nearly 100 percent of its coffee beans directly from producers able to meet its exacting quality standards, at a guaranteed premium over market prices averaging 30 percent. Today, illy stands as one of the world’s major purchasers of top-quality Arabica coffee directly from producers, whereby many coffees continue to be purchased on commodity markets, which can guarantee neither consistent quality nor a living wage to the coffee chain’s most important stakeholders: its 25 million families of growers.

source: illycaffè

source: http://www.prnewswire.com / CISTON PR Newswire / by illycaffe / October 17th, 2019

Auspicious start to Theerthodbhava at Talacauvery

October 18, 2019Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

Theerthakundike specially decorated for Theerthodbhava at Talacauvery. DH photo

Thousands of devotees arrived at Bhagamandala and Talacauvery for the annual Cauvery Theerthodbhava from Thursday afternoon.

The countdown for the annual festivity started from the evening. Rain, which lashed the district from the afternoon, caused inconvenience to the people.

The idol of River Cauvery at Talacauvery was specially decorated with golden jewels at Talacauvery. The festivities began with the special prayers on Thursday morning. Prayers were also offered at Bhagandeshwara Temple under the guidance of the temple priest Anantakrishna. This year, the number of visitors from Tamil Nadu and Kerala is less.

A ‘Sankalpa Mantapa’ built at a cost of Rs 2.50 lakh as an offering by Jnanaganga Foundation Trust’, Kushalnagar, was inaugurated by MLA K G Bopaiah to mark the occasion. The traditional ritual of planting ‘Bettu’ sapling was observed in rural areas on Thursday. ‘Kani Puja’ will be held across Kodagu district as a part of Cauvery fair.

Married women offer prayers by lighting the traditional ‘Nellakki’ lamps at their houses.

Balamuri fair from today will be celebrated at Agasthyeshwara Temple on Friday.

Special prayers will be offered in the temple. The devotees will be served Prasadameals.

Temple priest Chandrashekhar Aital said that Rudrabhisheka and Mahapuja will be offered to the presiding deity.

People, who cannot make it to Talacauvery for Theethodbhava will visit Balamuri, take a holy dip in River Cauvery and offer prayers at the temple. Balamuri Kshetra, 18 km away from Madikeri, houses Kanva Munishwara and Agasthyeshwara Temples.

Sage Agasthya is believed to have consecrated the ‘Shivalingam’ at Balamuri Kshetra on the banks of River Cauvery.

The devotees at Balamuri Kshetra complained about the lack of basic amenities at the temple. At least 3,000 devotees turn up for the Balamuri fair. The condition of the roads connecting the temple is also pathetic, they said.

On Thursday, the villagers of Balamuri cleaned the premises of the Kshetra.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Karnataka Districts / by DHNS, Madikeri / October 17th, 2019

Kodagu SP Admits Daughter To Anganwadi

October 17, 2019Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Featuresadmin

Madikeri:

While majority of officials admit their children to study in educational institutions of repute, Kodagu SP Suman D. Pennekar has set an example by admitting her two-year-six-month-old daughter Kushi to an anganwadi centre located near Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College, here.

SP Suman wanted Khushi to start her education by learning Kannada, her mother tongue, and hence admitted her to the anganwadi kendra.

The SP’s daughter takes part actively in all activities and also receives food everyday like other children of the kendra.

“Khushi, apart from taking part in all activities, enjoys every moment spent with other 17 children at the kendra,” said Anaganawadi Teacher Neetu.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Saraswathi Pennekar, SP Suman Pennekar’s mother, said that it is important to see that Khushi does not develop the feeling of being a daughter to an influential officer. Instead, she must mingle with other children and pick up good values and ethics from Government institutions like the anganwadi centres.

SP Suman, who drops Khushi to the centre every day, also spends time with other children while she comes to pick her from the centre.

A qualified Ayurvedic Doctor, Suman, is a native of Beedi village in Belagavi district. The 2013-batch IPS officer took charge as Kodagu SP in May, 2018.

Meanwhile, the photograph of SP Suman taking a selfie with her daughter and children at the anganwadi centre had gone viral. She has also been receiving appreciation from all corners of the society for her affection towards mother tongue and Government institutions.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / October 16th,2019

Parvathi Appaiah’s appointment surprises many

October 17, 2019Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

The appointment of Dr Parvathi Appaiah as the chairperson of Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy has come as a surprise to many.

Parvathi Appaiah was working as a member of NAAC committee post her retirement. She is a former principal and professor of Political Science at Field Marshal Cariappa College in Madikeri.

She has several books on public administration to her credit.

According to sources, the appointment was done considering the literary and academic achievements of Parvathi Appaiah.

Gowramma Madammaiah, Janaki Machaiah, Babbira Saraswati, Shambaiah, Padiranda Prabhukumar, Ravi Kalappa and Mecchira Subhash Nanaiah have been appointed as members of the academy. It is said that one of these members was an aspirant to the academy chief’s post.

After the BJP government came to power, the previous appointments of the presidents and members of various academies were cancelled and the order on the appointment of new presidents and members came on Tuesday.

Many BJP leaders were waiting in the wings to become president of Kodava Academy. The appointment of Parvathi Appaiah as Kodava Academy Chief has come as a surprise to them as well.

Lakshminarayana Kajegadde has been appointed as the president of Karnataka Arebhashe Sahitya Academy. This time too, the post has gone to Dakshina Kannada district. In the previous tenure, a person from Sullia was the chief of Arebhashe Academy.

Janaki Baitadka, Smita Amritraj, Prema Raghavaiah, A P Dhananjaya, Ananda Damkodi and Somanna R Soorthale have been appointed as the members of Arebhashe Academy. There were many aspirants for the post of president and members of Arebhashe Academy as well.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / October 16th, 2019

India’s coffee growers share history with Nobel winner Michael Kremer

October 15, 2019Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Records, All, Science & Technology, Sports, World Opinionadmin

The winners of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics in the screen grab — Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer (AP file)

– Michael Kremer, a Harvard University professor, was the co-Founder of ‘Precision Agriculture Development’ or PAD

– It advised the Coffee Board to pilot a missed-call enabled service to help coffee farmers in Karnataka
___________________________________

Bengaluru:

India’s Coffee Board, a state-run body that promotes coffee production and drinking, shares a slice of history with Michael Kremer, who won the Nobel Prize in Economics along with Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee.

Kremer, a Harvard University professor, was the co-Founder of ‘Precision Agriculture Development’ or PAD, which advised the Coffee Board to pilot a missed-call enabled service to help coffee farmers in Karnataka. The IVR call service can give precise advise to the grower from scientists at Central Coffee Research Institute.

“Under his guidance and leadership, Team PAD have been working with Coffee Board of India and the coffee ecosystem for more than one year now. Thanks to the stellar efforts of Michael, Shawn, Madhur, Niriksha and Team Coffee Board, we have been able to have a positive impact on the lives of 15000 coffee farmers using a simple missed call service, free of cost to coffee farmers,” said Srivatsa Krishna, Chief Executive Officer of Coffee Board, in a statement to the media.

The service, Coffee Krishi Taranga, gives registered growers a weekly advisory on critical farm operations and daily market statistics through an automated push call when a farmer places a missed call on the helpline (080-37685000) run by the Board. It has helped growers improve productivity, profitability and environmental outlook, and will be expanded to cover 50000 growers shortly, according to the Coffee Board.

The PAD’s journey in India begun as an academic experiment in Gujarat with cotton farmers in 2011, when Narendra Modi, then chief minister of Gujarat, encouraged testing a similar service in his state called Krishi Tarang, said Srivatsa. “On behalf of the entire Indian coffee ecosystem, the finest shade-grown, hand-picked rainforest Coffees in the world, we congratulate Dr.Kremer and thank Team PAD for their contributions,” said Srivatsa Krishna.

source: http://www.livemint.com /Live Mint / Home> Explore / by Nidheesh M.K. / October 15th, 2019

C. B. Muthamma – The First Woman Diplomat of India

October 15, 2019Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

Women today are seen in every sector. Professions that were conventionally considered to be ‘men’s jobs’ are now crowded with women. The women of today do not face as much struggle or prejudice in pursuing the career of their dreams as they did two or three decades before. This has been possible because of a few women who have confronted the unjust ways of the patriarchal world and made name for themselves.

One of these powerful ladies was C.B. Muthamma. Muthamma was the first IFS officer of India. She joined foreign services in the first qualifying batch of the service, right after the independence in the year 1949. This was at a time when a woman in diplomacy was a rarity in itself.

For the longest time, women were not considered fit for holding a diplomatic position across the globe. In fact, in 1933 it was stated in a debate in British House of Commons that “The special virtues of women are ill-adapted to the diplomatic life,” the virtues referred being ‘sympathy’ and ‘intuition’. These virtues were considered fatal as a balanced attitude was required in order to preserve diplomatic relations.

A British author Helen McCarthy has remarked in her book, ‘Women of the world’ that, “Even in the 21st century, a woman wielding serious powers in the global arena is an oddity. A phenomenon to be explained rather than taken for granted. Not only is her performance subject to closer scrutiny than her male peers, but it often comes to stand as a test of the ability of all women and to reflect for good or ill, the wisdom of allowing a woman to do a man’s job.”

There was a criterion up until the 1970s that only unmarried women can apply for the IFS services, and they will need to quit their positions whenever they choose to get married. Women were also not promoted to senior positions in the services.

C. B. Muthamma believed that this was clear discrimination. Which is why, when she was not considered for a well-deserved promotion, she filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India against the government of India, seeking justice for herself and all the women who would want to pursue their career in international relations. In a very famous case known as ‘Union of India vs. C. B. Muthamma’, the government changed its policy of not promoting the women before the apex court could give out its judgement for the case. The petition filed by Muthamma was then dismissed with her promotion to Grade 1 of the IFS, with the words by the judges that “We hereby dismiss the petition, but not the problem.”

The landmark case pushed the government to change its rules regarding these discriminating laws. And women now represent 18.5% of the total foreign officers of the country. However, it was this case that set off the trigger for many women to pursue careers in diplomacy while simultaneously leading a normal family life.

C.B. Muthamma has served as an inspiration to all the female diplomats, not only in India but across the world. India lost an exceptional officer of its foreign services when she bid adieu to the world on October 14, 2009.

source: http://www.thecsrjournal.in / The CSR Journal / Home> Header News / by Hency Thacker / October 15th, 2019

Boxing coach sure of good Olympics show

October 13, 2019Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports, World Opinionadmin

The second selection round will be held in Paris in May and training will be held for this in Patiala.

Chenanda A Kuttappa (centre) with boxers Amit Panghal (right) and Manish Kaushik (left) | Express

Madikeri :

“India will surely win many medals in the boxing category in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” said Chenanda A Kuttappa, the coach of the Indian boxing team. A native of Kodagu, Kutappa is the recipient of the Dronacharya Award.

Boxer Amit Panghal, who won silver medal and Manish Kaushik, who won bronze medal, in the recent boxing championship in Russia were trained by Kuttappa. He also holds pride in training famed boxer Vijendra Singh.

“For the very first time, India has won two medals in an international boxing event like Russian Boxing Championship. A total of 78 countries took part and India was ranked 6th,” Kuttappa, a former boxing champion, told The New Indian Express over phone.“India will definitely win many medals and carve a niche for itself in the Olympics.

Meanwhile, an international boxing championship will be held in India in 2021 and I am confident that we will excel in this championship. Rigorous training is going on to achieve this goal,” Kuttappa said.
The training for Olympic is going on and first round of selection will be held in China in February. “Training is being held for the first round in Ballari’s Jindal Centre,” he said.

The second selection round will be held in Paris in May and training will be held for this in Patiala.“The boxing scene in India is improving. Many championships are being held at national and international levels, which is a boon to the players. Also, boxing techniques have changed recently and this has resulted in brisk training,”opined Kutappa.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna G R / Express News Service / October 11th, 2019

Renowned Dubai Dasara Kreedotsava to be held on October 11

October 13, 2019Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports, World Opinionadmin

Dubai :

Hemmeya UAE Kannadigaru, Dubai’ team will be celebrating Dubai Dasara Kreedotsava – 2019 on October 11, at the Etisalat Sports Academy here.

Several Kannada kids, women, men, athletes, sportspersons will be participating in this mega sports event this year.

The second Dubai Dasara Koota is being organized by ‘Hemmeya UAE Kannadigaru Dubai’ family, which will begin at 8 am on the said date. It will be inaugurated and presided over by an international sports star, Arjuna award winner, Ashwini Nachappa.

The programme will be officially initiated by the lighting of sports lamps by the chief guest and the rendering of the state anthem. This will be followed by several sports activities including athletics, throwball, volleyball, football, kabaddi, kho kho, musical chair, lemon and spoon race and frog race for kids, rangoli and Gombe competition for ladies and many other games.

This year, ‘Hemmeya UAE Kannadigaru Dubai’ decided to identify people of Karnataka with stellar contributions to sports by honouring them with ‘Kreeda Ratna’ award. The award will be presented by Ashwini Nachappa.

Well-known anchor and voice-over artist from Karnataka Shruti will be anchoring the programmes of the day.

‘Hemmeya UAE Kannadigaru Dubai,’ has requested all the non-resident Kannadigas currently living in Dubai to attend this sport meet in large numbers and contribute to the success of this mega sports event.

The press conference organized to announce the programme was attended by members of the team, Shashidar, Rafiq Ali, Sudeep, Senthil, Madhu Gowda, Anitha Ram, Mamatha Raghavendra, Mamatha Senthil, Pallavi, Hadiya, Dr Savita, Vishnu Murthy, Venkatesh and Satish.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Middle East / by Media Release / October 10th, 2019

Madikeri Kendriya Vidyalaya gets new building

October 13, 2019Education, Records, Alladmin

Principal Arjun Singh lights a lamp on the occasion of the inauguration of new building of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Madikeri on Friday

HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal inaugurated a Kendriya Vidyalaya building in Madikeri through video conference.

Along with the Kendriya Vidyalaya in Madikeri, he had inaugurated 25 Kendriya Vidyalaya buildings in various districts across the country.

The Kendriya Vidyalaya is situated at Vidyanagara in Madikeri and the building is built at a cost of Rs 12 crore.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr Sneha, Kendriya Vidyalaya Zonal Assistant Commissioner Rajugopal, principal Arjun Singh, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Mudipu principal N S Yadav and others were present.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sneha said, “Kendriya Vidyalaya has its own status in the country, where quality education is imparted. Along with quality education, value education is also imparted to the students.”

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service, Madikeri / October 11th, 2019

Shines In Badminton

October 13, 2019Education, Records, All, Sportsadmin

B. Diya Bheemaiah, a student of Coorg Public School, Gonikoppal, won Silver Medal at National ICSE Badminton Tournament held at Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru recently and is selected to participate in the SGFI Tournament.

She will be representing the ICSE India Team for SGFI which will be held at Noida in October.

She was a member of the Karnataka team which won the Bronze Medal at the ICSE National Badminton Tournament.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / October 11th, 2019

Kodagu First

a Celebration. Positive News, Facts & Achievements about Kodagu, Coorgs and the People of Kodagu – here at Home and Overseas