A socially conscious Indian speciality coffee, recognised across the world for its bold flavours and ambrosial aroma, is now looking to expand into the Middle East.
Araku, the organic and high-quality coffee cultivated by the Araku Valley’s tribal farmers, is grown in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh and is exported to more than 12 countries.
Managed by the Indian not-for-profit Naandi Foundation, Araku’s collaborative approach has empowered tribal farmers to take ownership of their coffee production, fostering a thriving model that ensures ecological and economic security.
“Araku stands as a testimony to the power of democratic participation in the form of the tribal farmers’ co-operative, which now boasts a membership of more than 40,000, regularly conducts democratic elections, and has a current executive body with 50 per cent women,” Naandi vice-president Rohini Mukherjee explained.
Araku Coffee’s journey began in 1920 when British colonial officers identified the region’s potential for its cultivation due to its favourable climate and terrain.
After India’s independence, government initiatives in the 1960s formalised and improved coffee production, eventually benefiting small-scale farmers and tribal communities.
The Naandi Foundation, which partnered with local communities in 2000, introduced regenerative practices, leading to economic growth and environmental sustainability.
“Araku Coffee is now a premium luxury social enterprise with high socio-economic and ecological impact that has demonstrated how India can excel globally across the entire value chain from soil to foil,” Ms Mukherjee added.
“It is a matter of pride for the Naandi team that Araku coffee was included as one of the prized items in the Government of India’s gift hamper presented to visiting heads of state at the G20 Summit in 2023.”
Araku has expanded its reach with a flagship store in Paris as well as its signature coffee equipment designed by Norwegian duo Anderssen & Voll in France in 2018.
Two years ago, they expanded within India with a large-format café in Bengaluru as well as a restaurant in South Mumbai.
The annual Gems of Araku festival celebrates the region’s exceptional speciality coffee, featuring a rigorous expert evaluation of micro-lots and recognising the contributions of over 20,000 local farmer families.
“The event has helped nurture an Indian-origin international coffee brand produced by small and marginal tribal farmer families of Araku by taking it to the global buyer and consumer,” Ms Mukherjee explained.
In addition, Naandi’s pioneering Arakunomics model, based on its success, was honoured by the Rockefeller Foundation in 2020, as well as the Seeding the Future Prize by the Institute of Food Technologists in 2023. It is being scaled up in diverse Indian regions, including Vidarbha, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, to drive sustainable agriculture and community prosperity.
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