The British pioneers cultivated coffee in the hilly tracts of the Western Ghats in forest soils, rich in organic matter and humus. Hence, coffee grew luxuriantly because of the nutrient rich soils and excellent shade pattern. More importantly, prior to 1989, expansion of Coffee Plantations into new areas and Agro climatic regions was restricted by […]
Shade Coffee & the Vanishing Honey Bees
From the very inception of the Coffee Plantations, honey bees has been an integral part of the Coffee Forests. Coffee and bees has always enjoyed a symbiotic relationship. As a matter of rule, with very few exceptions, every Plantation is known to accommodate a select set of trees where large colonies of honey bees live. […]
Antivenom: Why it’s so precious
The Western Ghats, recognized world over as a center of biological diversity is also recognized for growing India’s finest shade coffees. Coffee Forests in India are by and large associated with wildlife sanctuaries and also form a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere region. These dense forests are located at elevations ranging from 750 meters right […]
Snails, Slugs And Eco-Friendly Shade Coffee
Coffee Forests in India are unique not just because they are positioned in one of the 10 hot spots in the Western Ghats, but earn a place of ecological significance for the incredible wealth of biodiversity they possess in terms of flora and fauna. The Coffee forests teem with both macro and micro wildlife, microorganisms, […]
Arecanut as an Intercrop Crop inside Shade Coffee
Indian shade grown coffee is always associated with one or the other multiple crops like Arecanut, Orange, Cardamom, Pepper, Oil palm, cocoa and banana. These multi crops grow luxuriantly along with Coffee and establish a symbiotic role where in one crop acts as an anchor to the other. These multi crops also provide a unique […]
Ecofriendly Coffee Pollinators Other than Bees & Butterflies
Almost all Coffee Planters, worldwide are of the opinion that Bees and butterflies are the only agents of pollination of coffee and other mixed crops associated with coffee. This is not true. There are many other agents of pollination closely associated with coffee forests. Pollinators come in all shapes and sizes and includes birds, insects […]