The Coffee Board has applied for registration of Araku coffee — a high quality speciality Arabica coffee — under Geographical Indications to protect the unique identity of the coffee grown by the tribal communities of Araku Valley in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, said Minister of State of Commerce and Industry CR Chaudhary.

A GI is a name or sign used on products which correspond to a specific geographical location or origin and act as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities associated with that locality.

Interestingly, the Girijan Cooperative Cooperative under the Andhra Pradesh government, too, has applied for GI tag for Araku coffee at the GI registry in Chennai. The GCC reportedly applied for GI in April 2016, almost two years before the Coffee Board applied for GI for the same product.

The Coffee Board has dismissed GCC’s claim for GI tag by arguing that it was not the right claimant for the tag. The GI registry will reportedly examine both claims and take a decision.

In a written reply to Lok Sabha on Monday, the Minister said that the Centre, through the Coffee Board, is promoting production of coffee in Araku Valley by implementing the ‘integrated coffee development project’ and applying for GI.

“The Coffee Board is facilitating collective marketing of Araku Coffee by providing incentives at ₹10 per kg for self help groups and grower collectives,” said the Minister.

Araku coffee is an organic coffee which has a niche market in countries such as France, Sweden, Dubai and Switzerland.

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