Kodagu: Paddy cultivation takes a back seat owing to weather changes and wildlife conflict

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, , , , , , ,

Several farmlands in South Kodagu have been abandoned owing to bad weather conditions and the increased movement of wild elephants.

Image used for representational purpose.

Madikeri:

Paddy cultivation in the district is receding compared to yesteryears as farming is yet to pick up pace this monsoon. Changing weather conditions, natural disasters and increased wildlife conflict are other factors affecting paddy cultivation. It is said that only 48 hectares of land have been cultivated with paddy. 

Over six years ago, nearly 35,000 hectares of farmlands across Kodagu were cultivated with paddy crops. But, the extent of the cultivation has diminished over the years as the target for paddy cultivation has now been reduced to 30,500 hectares by the agriculture department.

“The increasing wildlife conflict can be seen as one of the reasons for the farmers to give up paddy cultivation in several farmlands in the district. Further, many farmers have also taken to the cultivation of horticulture crops. Increased conversion of farmlands to areca nut estates has reduced paddy cultivation,” opined Shabana Sheikh, the Joint Director of the Agriculture Department.

A total of 23180 hectares of farmland was cultivated with paddy achieving a target of 76% last year. Over 384 hectares suffered crop loss due to rainfall last year. 

The farmers of South Kodagu have increasingly given up paddy cultivation. Out of the 14000 hectares of targeted cultivation, only 9960 hectares were cultivated for paddy last year. Several farmlands in South Kodagu have been abandoned owing to bad weather conditions and the increased movement of wild elephants.

With monsoons delayed in the region this year, the paddy transplantation work is yet to pick up pace in the district. In Madikeri taluk, only 40 hectares of farmlands have recorded paddy transplantation work to date this year. Meanwhile, eight hectares of farmland have witnessed paddy transplantation in Somwarpet taluk. Nevertheless, as per the data recorded by the department, no farmlands have yet been cultivated for paddy due to delayed rains across South Kodagu including in Virajpet and Ponnampet taluks.    

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / July 11th, 2023

Gulshan Devaiah pens heartwarming note for his manger Richa: ‘She has been my cheerleader, confidant & friend…’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, , ,

Gulshan Devaiah shared a heartwarming anecdote about his manager, who rooted for his film eight years ago.

Gulshan Devaiah was last seen in Dahaad. (Pic: Gulshan/Twitter)

Actor Gulshan Devaiah on Wednesday shared a heartwarming anecdote about his manager, Richa Bhoyar. The actor, who has been a part of unconventional cinema since his debut in Anurag Kashyap’s That Girl in Yellow Boots, expressed his gratitude for Richa’s support and revealed their unique connection.

In a Twitter post, Gulshan reminisced about the time when Richa, then a college student, unknowingly championed his film Hunterrr. Back in 2015, Richa came across the movie’s poster and instantly recommended it to her friends as a fun watch. Little did they know that their paths would cross again in the future.

Sharing the heartwarming anecdote, Gulshan Devaiah wrote, “Hello 🙂 The young lady in the picture is Richa Bhoyar. In 2015, she was 20 something years old, in college, perusing her studies. She saw the poster of Hunterrr one day & told her friends that they should go watch it in the theatre because it looks like a fun movie. She & her friends had never heard of me before that day, yet she convinced around 15 of her friends to buy tickets to watch my film. They all apparently really enjoyed the film.”

Revealing how Richa became his manager, he added, “Cut to …present day, Richa, now part of Bling Entertainment, is my manager. She has been my manager, cheerleader, confidant & friend for about 2 years now. She just told me the story about Hunterrr & it put a big smile on my face & lots of warmth in heart. She had no idea that she’d be a talent manager one day & I had no idea until she told me this story earlier today. The “power of attraction” she says 😀.. I am so happy that this is how things worked out for me. Thank you Richa & many cheers to you. Cinema Zindabad!! See y’all at the movies!!” Gulshan played the role of a sex addict in Hunterrr.

Gulshan Devaiah recently received accolades for his nuanced performance as a police officer in the Amazon Prime web series Dahaad. He will be next seen in the highly anticipated show Guns & Gulaabs, helmed by hit director duo Raj and DK. He also has Sudhanshu Saria’s Ulajh, which also stars Janhvi Kapoor and Roshan Mathew.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> News> Entertainment> Bollywood / by Entertainment Desk, Chennai / July 12th, 2023

Lavazza launches its first collection of locally-roasted coffee

Coffee News, World Opinion, ,

Italy’s biggest coffee roaster Lavazza, has announced the launch of Il Mattino Vivace its first pure filter coffee blend to be sourced and processed in India for the domestic market.

Coffee is being sourced from Chikmagalur and Coorg in Karnataka and processed in Lavazza’a manufacturing facility at Sri City in Andhra Pradesh.

The facility at Sri City in Tada began its commercial operations a few weeks ago, Fresh and Honest Cafe Ltd Managing Director Silvio Zaccareo said.

Fresh and Honest Cafe Ltd is a 100 percent subsidiary of Lavazza.

Zaccareo declined to reveal the size of investment made at the factory or the number of employees working in it.

II Mattino Vivace meaning ‘lively morning’ is made from Arabica and Robusta beans roasted for the “at home” segment.

“Lavazza is known the world over for its expertise in art of blending for over four generations. II Mattino Vivace is a result of combining that expertise and our understanding of the unique consumer preferences in Indian market”, he said.

To a query, he said the coffee powder would be available in retail outlets across the country. “We are planning to complete first stage distribution by end of this month”.

Zaccareo said the company inaugurated Coffee Training Centre last year which was the first largest centre outside Italy.

The centre trains professionals, carries out research and explores new forms of taste. “We have trained more than 1,000 people,” he said.

source: http://www.retailnews.asia / RetailNews.asia / Home / by Retail Asia / July 14th, 2023

From Coorg to cricket stardom: Meet Vidwath, the next bowling sensation!

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports, , , , , , ,

From land of hockey to cricket stardom, Vidwath Kaverappa takes seven-star route

IMAGE: Vidwath Kaverappa bagged seven wickets. Photograph: BCCI Domestic/Twitter

Vidwath Kaverappa entered the Karnataka pace bowling landscape in a rather tough period after the departure of stalwarts such as R Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun and S Arvind.

It might have been tough for a 24-year-old to learn the tricks of the trade almost on his own.

But now, Vidwath has established himself as his the state team’s spearhead and a potential candidate to fill an India spot. In the previous Ranji Trophy season (2022-23) Vidwath bagged 30 wickets, and he has already picked up 14 wickets from three innings in the on-going Duleep Trophy.

The numbers give the picture of a young man who is a quick learner and a keen observer. Vidwath emphasised those aspects as his strong points.

The Karnataka right-arm pacer said he has been absorbing lessons from watching the footage of South African legend Dale Steyn and veteran India bowler Mohammed Shami.

“Since I don’t have the express pace, like Prasidh (Krishna) or Vysakh (Vijayakumar), I need to seek other ways to get purchase from the wicket. So, that’s something I’ve watched great bowlers like Dale Steyn or Mohammed Shami do,” he said.

Vidwath said he has been trying to copy the seam position of those two fine bowlers.

“I have seen a lot of moments of their bowling. So, I can see how good the seam presentation is and what the ball does, even in white ball. So, why not do it in the red ball with a prominent seam, and I know I’ll get a lot more help with it,” he said.

Vidwath has shown that trait all along, even from his junior days for Lions Institutions in Gonikoppal, Coorg, and Presidency College in Bengaluru.

Samuel Jayaraj, a KSCA coach who imparted him the first lessons, remembered watching him in Coorg eight years ago during a talent hunt drive by the state association.

Back then he was pleasantly surprised to see the spirited reaction from youngsters to the camp as Coorg is the stronghold of hockey.

“Vidwath had come as an attentive kid. He never gets tired of bowling at nets and wanted to learn as much as he could. He is a natural bowler and athlete.

“Coming from Coorg, he had that natural aptitude for sports. We just have to give him direction once I saw him during that trial. We were convinced that Vidwath would be an asset to the Karnataka team, and if everything goes well, then even at a higher level,” said Jayaraj.

It was not an empty praise as evidenced by future turn of events. In 2022, Vidwath finished as the second highest wicket-taker in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, taking 18 wickets from 8 matches at an impressive economy of 6.36.

The recognition of that effort came when Punjab Kings picked him up for the IPL 2023 from the mini-auction for his base price of Rs 20 lakh.

Though he did not play a game in this edition, Kings bowling coach Charl Langeveldt is convinced of his ward’s potential


“The team combination is such that it is tough for every player to get a chance to be in the 11. In a tournament like IPL, matches come very fast and you really don’t have time to tinker with 11.

“But this kid is talented and bowls at nets with a wonderful seam (position). He, I am sure, will feature in Punjab’s scheme prominently very soon,” Langeveldt told PTI.

Vidwath knew the importance of waiting for his turn patiently after taking those bold initial steps.

“I feel like I’m learning from every game and that is important at this age for me. I knew even if I didn’t get a chance into the big team this transitional period, my time will come.”

“I’ve watched football a lot, so I know how in a great team new players come when old players leave, you need to be patient with them. So, I had to take my time and perform to the best of my abilities,” said Vidwath.

Vidwath indeed did that. He wrecked a power-packed West Zone batting unit with a seven-wicket haul. His victim list included players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Suryakumar Yadav and Prithvi Shaw.

However, Vidwath, typical of him, did not try to wrap the performance in a magic cloak.

“I’ve always been the kind of guy who likes responsibilities, who likes to take up the heavy load and make the big moments for the team,” he said.

Perhaps, he knows bigger moments are on his way. 

source: http://www.rediff.com / rediff.com / Home> Cricket / by PTI / July 14th, 2023

Having experienced the corporate life’s exhaustion first-hand, Bajan Bopanna brings visitors to the lap of nature with Evergreen County

Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021)
Evergreen County allows visitors to stay in the traditional cottages of Coorg while being close to unadulterated nature

New Delhi :

While Indians are embracing digitization and working toward a better future, they are exhausting themselves in the corporate culture. The two COVID waves showed how employees working from the comfort of their homes also tend to overwork themselves, hampering their mental health along the way. This makes it important for people to find opportunities to relax and unwind.

With Evergreen County, Bajan Bopanna provides his guests with such an opportunity to find moments of calm amidst a life full of chaos. Evergreen County is an initiative that allows visitors to spend a few days in nature’s lap while embracing the traditional way of living in the best cottages of Coorg. It lets travelers live in traditional cottages and live the planters’ lives for a few days.

The award-winning conceptual stay facility in Coorg provides its clients with a blend of nature and adventure, taking them away from a life of boredom and burnout. Evergreen County steers away from being a conventional resort or a homestay. It focuses on offering a conceptual stay to the visitors by letting them live in cottages located inside the coffee and pepper plantations near Nangala Hills. Bajan and his team intend to take their guests on a unique retreat that goes beyond the mainstream definition of “luxury.”

Bajan conceptualized Evergreen County after experiencing the exhaustion of corporate life first-hand. Working as a corporate employee for several years had him wound up in a monotonous routine that drained his life of excitement and vigor. This made him mindful of the lives of thousands of employees living the same way, motivating him to come up with the concept of Evergreen County. With this conceptual stay, Bajan aims to help his guests experience the bliss, calm, and comfort that comes with becoming one with nature.

At Evergreen County, visitors can opt for cottages for group or family stays, depending on their preferences. The management facilitates accommodation in fully sanitized wooden cottages surrounded by natural aesthetics. All guests are served organic and authentic food during their stay, adding to the exotic experience of living in the woods.

Apart from facilitating wooden cottage stays, Evergreen County indulges its visitors in water activities (kayaking, coracle rides, pond swimming, etc.), adventure activities (ziplining, sky cycling, rope adventures, etc.), gun firing, archery, trekking, rafting, night plantation walks with lanterns, and much more.

Bajan believes that a retreat like Evergreen County is necessary for modern working professional to ensure their mental well-being. He says, “A concept like this is built for people to take a break from their routine life; to help them escape the concrete jungle to the real jungle, play in the natural pond, stay in bamboo wooden cottages amidst the coffee plantations, and try the Coorg way of living with great food, adventure, water activities, and much. This will definitely recharge a person completely and make a lot of difference!”

To learn more about Evergreen County and book a stay, visit its official website here: https://evergreencounty.com

(Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

source: http://www.aninews.in / ANI / Home> National / by ANI / July 14th, 2023


Rajyogini BK Meenakshiji Passes Away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022)

Gonikoppal (Kodagu):

Brahma Kumari (BK) Meenakshiji, a senior Rajyogini of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, who was popularly called as Meenakshi Akka, passed away on July 11 morning at a private hospital in Mangaluru.

A native of Chikkamandur in Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu district, Meenakshiji was the eldest daughter of Kallichanda K. Machaiah and Parvathi couple and is survived by four brothers

The body was kept at the Gonikoppal Branch of Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya yesterday morning for the public to pay their last respects and the mortal remains were shifted to Chikkamandur, where the last rites were performed.

Brahma Kumaris Mysuru Zone Chief Convenor BK Lakshmiji, Kodagu Zone Chief Convenor BK Gayathriji and others have condoled the death of BK Meenakshiji.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / July 13th, 2023

DC urges resorts, homestays in Kodagu to upload details on tourism websites

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021)

The list of homestays and resorts in Kodagu, which are run legally getting all the clearances from government agencies, should be made available on tourism-related websites for the benefit of tourists.

This message was conveyed at a meeting of the associations of hotels, restaurants, resorts, and homestays in Madikeri. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja who suggested uploading information on registered homestays and resorts operated in the district.

Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan said the police have kept a close vigil for controlling narcotics and advised resorts not to engage in illegal activities. The police will act tough if they comes across such activities being encouraged on their properties, he cautioned. Problems can be brought to the notice of the police immediately by calling 112, he advised.

Kodagu Homestays’ Association general secretary Monti Ganesh suggested simplifying the registration process for homestays. Kodagu has about 200 registered homestays. If the process is simplified, more homestays will voluntarily register, he felt. He also suggested establishing tourist information centres and more public toilets besides giving importance to hygiene in tourist spots.

Hotel Owners’ Association president Nagendra Prasad said the district administration must consider giving priority to easing parking issues, which aggravate during weekends when tourist footfall goes up. He suggested establishing more facilities in tourist spots in view of the rise in tourism revenue.

Kodagu Chamber of Commerce and Industry general secretary Ambekallu Naveen said tourists engage in cooking while on visit to Kodagu. There has to be designated places for cooking for tourists, he said. Honey and spices are being faked in the market and this has to be checked for safeguarding the identity of these products.

Somwarpet taluk homestay association president C.K. Rohit said there are no display boards with useful information for tourists on the way to Kote Betta and steps must be taken to install information boards on the route for the benefit of tourists. He sought a ropeway at Mallalli waterfalls and a hanging bridge to Pushpagiri hills.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 11th, 2023

Holiday for schools in Kodagu as monsoon gains vigour

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All
The Cauvery near Betri in Kodagu district brimming with water due to heavy rains on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

All schools and anganwadis in Kodagu will remain closed on Friday as a precautionary measure in view of the incessant rains across the district.

A communique was issued by Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu Venkat Raja. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said monsoon was vigorous and active over south interior Karnataka with very heavy rainfall of 120 mm reported in Bhagamandala during the 24-hour period ending 8.30 a.m. on Thursday.

The IMD has forecast heavy rains at isolated places over Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, and Kodagu district on July 7 and 8.

Though the monsoon progression into Kodagu has been slow, the last 72 hours has shown some traction with moderate to heavy rains in the Cauvery catchment areas.

The cumulative rainfall since the advent of South West Monsoon since June 1 till date is below normal in Kodagu (-79%), Mysuru (-40%), Mandya (-23%), Hassan (-63%), and Chamarajanagar (-32%).

But the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday saw Kodagu registering 58.12 mm of rainfall and this has been the trend since the past few days shoring up hopes of monsoon gaining vigour.

Apart from Bhagamandala (120 mm), heavy rains were also recorded at Sampaje (98.5 mm), Shantalli (100 mm), Madikeri Kasaba (54.20 mm), Napoklu (76.40 mm), Virajpet (68.4 mm), Hudikeri (53.3 mm), Srimangala (59.4 mm), Ponnampet (50 mm), and Ammathi (50 mm). Rains have also lashed other places like Suntikoppa, Kushalnagar, and Kodlipet.

The inflow into the Harangi reservoir was at the rate of 1,557 cusecs and the inflow is expected to increase owing to the current spell of rains in the next few days.

However, the cumulative rainfall since the advent of south west monsoon from June 1 till date is below normal in Kodagu (-79%), Mysuru (-40%), Mandya (-23%), Hassan (-63%), and Chamarajanagar (-32%).

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 06th, 2023

Sprinting to Success: Prolific Badminton duo Ashwini and Tanisha reach new heights in BWF Rankings

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), World Opinion, , , , ,
Badminton - Commonwealth Games Day 10
Badminton – Commonwealth Games Day 10

Indian Badminton Doubles Players, Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto have achieved their career-best rankings in BWF Rankings. In the recent update by the BWF, the duo successfully climbed up one place to reach 60th rank. This is the highest they have achieved in their entire career.

The pair recently won the Nantes International Challenge title by defeating the prolific duo of Hung En-Tzu and Lin Yu-Pei of Chinese Taipei. The event took place at the Salle Metropolitana de la Trocardaiare, Paris. Ashwini is a Commonwealth gold medallist and a world-class player with many titles under her belt.

Meanwhile, Tanisha has astoundingly proven herself. She paved her way through the domestic circuit and has shown his talent alongside experienced players. Both of them have performed exceptionally well in the recent past and are willing to stick with the winning ways.

Ashwini attained the highest-ever ranking of 10 in women’s double alongside Jwala Gutta in 2015. While Tanisha had the highest rank of 115 with Shruti Mishra. This duo has come a long way to achieve this feat in the BWF Rankings update. They display the depth in the Indian Badminton pool and the nurturing of this depth.

Other Indian Players to Gain in Recent BWF Rankings

Apart from these two, Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker moved up to 64th rank. Swetaparna Panda and Rutaparna Panda advanced to 66, while the Palak-Unnati pair moved to the 90th position. All of these Ranks were achieved in the Women’s Doubles category.

In the Men’s Single category, Kiran George moved up three places to achieve the 53rd position. While in the Men’s Doubles category, P.S.Ravikrishna and S.Sankar climbed up four places to grab the 70th ranking. The pair of Achutaditya-Venkata Harsha also made meager progress by moving to 80th place in the rankings.

These are some major updates from the BWF Rankings update in July 2023 and the players would be motivated to further progress in the same manner.

source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / SportsKeeda / Home> Badminton / by SportzConnect / edited by Yash Singh / July 05th, 2023

Why 5 families in Coorg’s Bandadka village dread the rains

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, , , , , ,

Bandadka village in Coorg, known as the Scotland of India, faces challenges during the rainy season. Lack of road connectivity, proper bridge, electricity, and necessities affect villagers. Despite requests, the authorities have not provided adequate facilities, putting lives at risk.

Why 5 families in Coorg's Bandadka village dread the rains vkp

Coorg is known as the Scotland of India. It shines with lush green vegetation, numerous waterfalls and rich culture. However, during the rainy season – the lack of basic necessities in the villages comes to the fore. One such unfortunate village is the Bandadka village of Sampaje taluk. 

The village has no road connectivity to the city. Every rainfall disrupts their peace. Agony takes over as the flow of the river is alarming. The local panchayat has not yet been able to provide the village with a proper bridge.

‘Jeevanadi’ going dry: Coorg suffers in tourism

During rainfall, it is risky to cross the Payashwini river, which flows along NH275. If one wants to reach the village, crossing the river while holding on to a rope is mandatory.

The villager’s lack of electricity, road connectivity, and even the link bridge connecting them to the taluk is breathing its last. Surprisingly, even after 75 years of Independence, there are such villages in the state, especially in the tourist hotspot of Coorg, which lack the necessities. 

The link bridge connecting the village and outskirts is ready to set sail if the people set their foot on it. There are five families in the village. Three of them comprise of old-aged people who are leading their lives in danger. The river flow during summer is very low, so the villagers’ daily life is not disrupted. Only during the rainy season do they undergo an adventurous river crossing every day. The Payashwini river, called the Chandragiri river, flows across Sullia, Jalsoor, Chengala and Kasargod.

Karnataka: Expect rainfall within 24 hours; ‘Orange’ alert for the coasts

The Panchayat used to construct a small bridge for the villagers once in 3-4 years. This year, the one constructed last time is on the verge of collapsing into the river. 

For medication, villagers must walk 2.5 km through the wild forest, which elephants and leopards inhabit. They should walk through the small dam and reach NH 275 for transport. The villagers complain that even after requesting the ministers, Panchayat and District administration to provide them with the facilities, no one seems to care.

source: http://www.newsable.asianetnews.com / Asianet News Able / Home> English News> India News / by Vijaykumar Patil / July 04t, 2023