Coffee cultivation up in Araku, Chintapalli areas

Rajamahendravaram: Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) former regional manager S Maheswara Rao has said that coffee cultivation is increasing in Araku and Chintapalli areas of Visakhapatnam district and over one lakh tribals are getting livelihood through this commercial crop.

Imparting training to the officials of forest department on 'Coffee cultivation' at Andhra Pradesh Forest Academy here on Saturday, he said coffee was the main source of income to tribals. Forest lands were conducive to raise the crop as coffee plantations needs cool atmosphere, he said.

Because of Conservation Act 1990, coffee cultivation was banned in forest areas, he pointed out and added for the benefit of tribals, coffee cultivation was going on in non-forest lands under the aegis of respective Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDA).

As the demand for coffee increased, the forest department also took up this as a priority and it is the duty of the officials to put their endeavor to develop it, he stated. Andhra Pradesh Forest Academy Deputy Director MV Prasad Rao was present.