Pawan Kalyan calls for global expansion of Araku coffee
The organic crop grown in the Eastern Ghats currently supports 2.5 lakh tribal families and generates an annual turnover of Rs 250 crore.
AP Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has called for expanding Araku coffee's global reach while protecting the tribal farmers who cultivate it in the Eastern Ghats. Speaking on International Coffee Day, Kalyan highlighted how the organic coffee has traveled from the valleys of Andhra Pradesh to Parliament.
Cultivated across 2.51 lakh acres in Alluri Sitharama Raju district, coffee farming has transformed the lives of 2.5 lakh tribal families. First introduced in 1985-86 by former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao, the chemical-free crop has earned organic certifications and international demand.
Tribal farmers intercrop coffee with black pepper, earning between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 8 lakh annually. The coffee is exported to nations including France, Australia, and England, generating an annual turnover of Rs 250 crore.
To support this growth, the state plans to expand cultivation by an additional one lakh acres between 2026-27 and 2030-31. Officials also aim to achieve a production target of 18,000 tonnes by 2026-27.
