By Subba Rao

Copyright thehindu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu congratulated the Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) after its flagship brand, Araku Coffee, won the prestigious Business Line Changemaker Award at the national level in the Financial Transformation category.

Tribal Welfare Minister Gummadi Sandhya Rani and GCC Managing Director Kalpana Kumari met the Chief Minister at the Secretariat on Friday, and showed him the award and citation received from Business Line.

The Chief Minister lauded the achievement, noting that since obtaining the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, Araku Coffee had emerged as a prominent international brand.

“Grown organically in the Agency areas of Araku, this coffee is celebrated for its purity, aroma, and distinctive taste. Its unique qualities have given Araku global recognition,” Mr. Naidu said. He added that coffee cultivation significantly transformed the lives of tribal farmers in the region.

MoU with Tata firm

The Minister informed the Chief Minister about the recent MoU between the GCC and Tata Consumer Products Ltd., under which India’s first organic soluble coffee would be produced.

She explained that an Integrated Coffee Processing Unit, equipped with modern technology, was being set up at Makavarapalem, near Narsipatnam. “This facility will promote a bean-to-cup model, create value-added products, and open new markets for Araku Coffee,” she said.