Need to strengthen institutional, financial and marketing support to address the issues faced by coffee growers in Kandhamal district, Odisha- Laid

Need to strengthen institutional, financial and marketing support to address the issues faced by coffee growers in Kandhamal district, Odisha- Laid SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI (KANDHAMAL): I would like to draw the attention of the Government to the plight and potential of coffee growers in Kandhamal district, Odisha. (cid:110) Kandhamal, a tribalmajority district, has begun cultivating coffee as livelihood crop Under Odisha Coffee Mission. At present, Kandhamal contributes significantly to the State?s coffee acreage, (cid:110) yet growers face low farmgate prices, lack of local curing and processing facilities, poor market linkages, branding and Geographical Indication (GI) recognition. Unlike Kandhamal turmeric, which has secured a GI tag, Kandhamal Coffee remains (cid:110) unrecognised and undersupported. Coffee cultivation in Kandhamal can become a sustainable livelihood for thousands of tribal families if properly nurtured. With targeted support, Kandhamal Coffee has the potential to replicate the success of Koraput Coffee and emerge as a district brand with national and export value. I urge the Government to provide price support and procurement mechanisms to stabilise incomes of Kandhamal (cid:110) coffee growers; establish communitylevel curing and processing units in Kandhamal under central schemes; extend credit, crop insurance, and technical training through NABARD and tribal cooperatives; facilitate branding, organic certification, and GI (cid:110) registration for ?Kandhamal Coffee;? and ensure interministerial coordination with the Government of Odisha to implement a (cid:110) timebound action plan for Kandhamal coffee development.