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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Man Ki Baat on Sunday, he celebrated India's growing coffee culture and praised Odisha's 'Koraput coffee' as a shining example of rural transformations. PM Modi said- "India’s coffee is coffee at its finest. It is brewed in India and loved by the world."

So, what exactly is Koraput Coffee? Why is it in such high demand? And how are farmers becoming wealthy through its cultivation? Here is the complete story about it.

Koraput Coffee is a premium variety grown in Koraput district of southern Odisha. The high altitude, unique soil, and favorable climate here are considered perfect for this cultivation. Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties are primarily grown here, but the Arabica variety is more renowned for its superior aroma and flavor. Additionally, it has received Geographical Indication (GI) recognition and is increasingly being exported to international markets.

Koraput Coffee is becoming increasingly popular among coffee lovers due to several following reasons mentioned below:

Koraput coffee is proving to be a good opportunity for farmers that is offering higher profits than traditional crops. Let's look at an approximate calculation:

Cost of cultivation

Initial sapling: Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000 (approximately 800-1000 plants per acre)

Manure and Fertilizer: Rs 5,000 - Rs 7,000

Annual cost for Irrigation and Labor : Rs 10,000 - Rs 15,000

Other expenses like pest control, harvesting: Rs 5,000 - Rs 8,000

Total cost: Rs 30,000 - Rs 40,000 (per acre, per year, for the first 3-4 years)

Coffee plantation takes 3-4 years to bear fruit, starting from the beginning the costs increase over the years, then stabilize.

Production and income

A healthy coffee tree can produce 0.5 to 1 kilogram of dry coffee beans each year. With 800-1000 trees per acre, 400-800 kg beans can be produced.

The market price of Koraput coffee green beans can range from Rs 150- Rs 250 per kilogram. Special grades are even higher.

Profit calculation

Medium Yield (600 kg per acre):

600 kg Rs 200 (average price) = Rs 1,20,000

High Yield (800 kg per acre): 800 kg Rs 200 (average price) , total costs arround Rs 1,60,000

Net profit (at medium production): Rs 1,20,000 (income)- Rs 30,000 (cost) equals to Rs 90,000 per acre per year

Net profit (at high production): Rs 1,60,000 (income)- Rs 30,000 (cost) = Rs 1,30,000 per acre per year

This is an approximate calculation. Actual income depends on soil quality, cultivation methods, weather, and market conditions. Farmers can earn even more profits by directly processing their coffee or adding value such as roasting and packaging.

Narendra Modi mentioned Koraput Coffee in Man Ki Baat broadcast brought national attention to this crop. He said many people from Koraput had written to him expressing pride in their coffee, which has gained recognition for both its flavour and its social impact.

“I have been told that Koraput coffee tastes amazing, and that coffee cultivation is transforming lives. There are people in Koraput who left corporate jobs to take up coffee farming out of sheer passion,” he said.

PM Modi praised the farmers of Koraput for turning their passion into livelihood, noting that many women have also found financial independence through coffee cultivation. He discussed how growing coffee has become a source of empowerment and employment in the region.

Akanksha is a writer who covers personal finance and commodities, with prior experience in cryptocurrency reporting. She has also covered political elections a