Explained | How Will 2,500 Akka Cafes Transform Karnataka’s Coffee Sector?
- Saritha Devaiah Ballachanda
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Karnataka government has cleared ₹25 crore to establish 2,500 coffee kiosks branded as ‘Akka Cafe’, to be managed by women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The move is designed to deepen the coffee value chain while creating livelihood opportunities for women across the State.
What is the objective?
Speaking at the inauguration of the India International Coffee Festival in Bengaluru on February 12, Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil said the scheme aims to link grassroots entrepreneurs with Karnataka’s robust coffee ecosystem. The festival was organised by the Specialty Coffee Association of India (SCAI).
Who will implement it?
The Coffee Board of India, in partnership with the National Rural Livelihood Mission–Karnataka, is imparting training to one lakh women from SHGs. The programme covers coffee preparation techniques, café operations and business skills, equipping them to independently manage the kiosks.
In addition, the government has introduced scholarships for children of labourers working in coffee estates and large plantations in Kodagu district, offering social support alongside economic initiatives.
How does this fit into the larger coffee economy?
Karnataka leads the country in coffee cultivation, with plantations spread across 2.2 lakh hectares. Nearly 75% of India’s output originates from Hassan, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru districts.
Patil noted that growers are increasingly marketing their own brands. At the ‘Kala Loka’ outlet operated by the Industries Department at Kempegowda International Airport, coffee is displayed and retailed alongside more than 45 Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged products from the State, complete with distinct branding and packaging.
The festival has convened planters, processors, exporters, roasters, café operators, equipment manufacturers and consumers, highlighting Karnataka’s central role in India’s coffee landscape.
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