Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan has said that the carbon-neutral village coffee park project will bring back the past glory of the agriculture sector in Wayanad district, especially in coffee and tea sectors.
Speaking after inaugurating the special office of the project here on Saturday, Mr. Jayarajan said the State government had earmarked ₹150 crore for the first phase of the project . Negotiations were under way to procure as many as 100 acres of land at Varyad in the district to set up the park, Mr. Jayarajan said.
Kinfra to execute project
As many as 1.5 lakh coffee plants would be planted on the land as part of making the region a carbon-neutral zone, the Minister said. Kinfa would execute the project with the support of Coffee Board, Mr. Jayarajan said.
The park would act as a motivational force to the farming community.
Common processing facilities for coffee would be established.
All the technical assistance, including acquiring organic certification and other requirements, would be provided by Kinfra to farmers, Mr. Jayarajan said.
“A company with private public participation would be formed for the successful running of the project and the government would hold 26% share of the company,” Mr. Jayarajan said adding that the remaining share would be provided to small scale farmers, farmer producer companies, and individuals.
The value-added coffee powder from the carbon-neutral Wayanad hills would be marketed under the brand name Malabar Coffee, Mr. Jayarajan said.
For tea sector also
The government was also planning to set up a similar park in tea sector and it would be set up at Mananthavady taluk on 200 acres of land. The value-added tea products would be marketed under the brand name of Wayanad Tea, he said.