Visakhapatnam, March 1: In a major leap forward for sustainable agriculture and tribal empowerment, Andhra Pradesh’s Girijan Cooperative Corporation Ltd (GCC) has achieved organic certification for Araku coffee, enabling its entry into prominent European markets and forging a strategic partnership with Tata Consumer Products for domestic sales.
Milestone Certification Boosts Araku Coffee’s Market Presence
The newly secured organic certification positions Araku coffee—a specialty grown by tribal farmers in the Paderu Agency area—as a premium product for global consumers. According to GCC Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Kalpana Kumari, this certification is a landmark achievement, enhancing the coffee’s appeal and marketability.“With an organic certification in place, GCC has started marketing organic coffee separately. The response has been encouraging, with orders already received from Tata Group domestically and buyers from Germany and Italy internationally,” Kumari said.
Strategic Partnership with Tata Consumer Products
GCC has officially partnered with Tata Consumer Products, a major domestic buyer tasked with marketing and distributing certified organic Araku coffee. Highlighting the significance of this collaboration, Kumari explained, “We have an agreement with Tata; they will be purchasing certified organic coffee. It is organic, but this is the first time we have certified organic coffee from the Araku area.”Leveraging this successful collaboration, GCC and Tata Consumer Products will soon expand their partnership to include organically certified pepper. The initial consignment of organic pepper is set for delivery to Tata Consumer Products in April.
Robust Organic Certification Process
Initiated as a pilot project in 2019, GCC’s organic certification program involves stringent guidelines and rigorous inspections. About 2,600 tribal farmers cultivating 2,275 hectares across Chintapalli and GK Veedhi mandals have adopted certified organic farming practices under close monitoring by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)-approved certifying body.To incentivize and reward farmers' commitment, GCC has announced attractive premium procurement rates for organic coffee this season. Arabica Parchment coffee fetches ₹450 per kg, compared to ₹400 per kg for conventional coffee. Similarly, Arabica Cherry coffee commands ₹330 per kg, significantly higher than the ₹250 per kg for the regular variety.
Promoting Sustainability and Tribal Empowerment
Through organic certification and premium market access, GCC aims to uplift the economic status of tribal farmers, providing them with sustainable growth opportunities. The increased awareness and adoption of organic practices are empowering thousands of tribal growers and contributing to Andhra Pradesh's emerging reputation as a global hub for organic produce."By promoting organic cultivation and securing premium markets, GCC is enhancing the livelihoods of tribal farmers while positioning Andhra Pradesh as a key player in the organic produce sector, both in India and globally,” Kumari noted.
GCC’s Continued Commitment to Tribal Welfare
Established in 1956 under the Cooperative Societies Act, GCC remains dedicated to improving the socio-economic conditions of tribal families in undivided Andhra Pradesh. The organization's market intervention programs currently support approximately 20,000 tribal families, enabling them to participate actively in the growing coffee industry and thrive economically.Through strategic partnerships, sustainable agriculture, and organic certification, GCC’s initiatives continue to pave the way for significant improvements in tribal livelihoods, fostering a positive economic impact across the region.