• BRICS delegates and mediapersons got a taste of the exotic Arabica brew from Koraput’s hills, spotlighting Odisha’s tribal coffee economy on a multilateral platform.

Crop Characteristics

• India primarily produces two varieties — Arabica (mild, aromatic, grown at higher altitudes) and Robusta (stronger body, higher caffeine, grown at lower altitudes). Koraput’s “Tiger Bright” is 100% Arabica.

Cultivation Requirements for Arabica

Regional Distribution

• Traditional areas: Karnataka (~70% of total production), Kerala, Tamil Nadu.
• Non-traditional areas: Eastern Ghats (Andhra Pradesh’s Araku Valley, Odisha’s Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal) and the North-Eastern States.

Institutional Framework

• TDCCOL (Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation of Odisha Ltd.): the primary aggregator and marketing agency, eliminating middlemen and ensuring fair procurement prices to tribal growers.
• Coffee Board of India: a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, set up under the Coffee Act of 1942, responsible for research, extension and development.

Policy Linkages

• One District One Product (ODOP): Koraput Coffee is promoted under the ODOP scheme (DPIIT) to boost export readiness and local branding.
• Shift from Podu (shifting) cultivation: coffee plantation under forest canopy provides an eco-friendly alternative, curbing soil erosion while delivering sustainable cash income.
• Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006: recognition of individual and community forest rights has encouraged tribal families to take up horticulture and agro-forestry on patta land.

Intellectual Property: Geographical Indication (GI) Status

• Coffee from this agro-ecological zone gained GI coverage in 2019 under the shared “Araku Valley Arabica Coffee” registration (covering contiguous zones across Odisha and Andhra Pradesh).
• Odisha has also pursued institutional steps toward a distinct, standalone GI status for Koraput Coffee to highlight its specific terroir, organic forest-grown profile, and tribal cooperative branding.

International Relations & Cultural Diplomacy

• Economic Diplomacy via ODOP: showcasing indigenous, high-value agricultural commodities (like Koraput Coffee at the BRICS Summit) reflects India’s strategy to promote geographical specialties on multilateral platforms.
• Soft Power & Global Branding: elevating forest-grown tribal produce aligns with global demand for ethically sourced, shade-grown, and single-origin specialty coffees.