DST Project

11/08/2026

11/08/2026

The Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) of the Coffee Board has set up a vermicompost unit for Scheduled Tribe coffee growers in Maldhare, implemented through Sri Kollimale Basaveshwara Raitha Uthpadakara Sangha, Bedaguli.

Established under a scheme funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, the unit provides association-produced vermicompost to its members at ₹10 per kg. Members can apply this vermicompost to coffee, pepper, arecanut, cardamom, and other crops to boost their yield.

An event to distribute the prepared vermicompost to tribal planters were organized on 7th August 2026 at Bedaguli village in Chamarajanagar District. Dr. T. N. Gopinandhan (Pricipal Investigator) of the project, attended the event and highlighted the benefits of using vermicompost. He noted that profits generated from producing and selling the compost can be reinvested into the association's activities, adding that successful utilization of this unit could lead to the establishment of additional units for Scheduled Tribe associations.

The event was attended by:

Dr.B.J. Ashwini Kumar (Former Coffee Board Convenor)

Shri Jade Swamy (Project Field Officer)

Shri A. Vigneshvar Raj (Project Associate)

Shri Periyaswamy (CoSTOC Representative)

Members of the association

11/08/2026

The Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) of the Coffee Board has set up a vermicompost unit for Scheduled Tribe coffee growers in Maldhare, implemented through the Adivasi Coffee Matthu Karimenasu Belagarara Sangha, Maldhare.

Established under a scheme funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, the unit provides association-produced vermicompost to its members at ₹10 per kg. Members can apply this vermicompost to coffee, pepper, arecanut, cardamom, and other crops to boost their yield.

An event to distribute the prepared vermicompost to members was organized on the 27th July 2026 at Maldhare village in Kodagu Dt. Dr. T. N. Gopinandhan (Pricipal Investigator) of the project, attended the event and highlighted the benefits of using vermicompost. He noted that profits generated from producing and selling the compost can be reinvested into the association's activities, adding that successful utilization of this unit could lead to the establishment of additional units for Scheduled Tribe associations.

The event was attended by:

Dr.B.J. Ashwini Kumar (Former Coffee Board Convenor)

Shri Jade Swamy (Project Field Officer)

Shri A. Vigneshvar Raj (Project Associate)

Shri Divakara (CoSTOC Representative)

Members of the association

11/08/2026

The Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) of the Coffee Board has set up a vermicompost unit for Scheduled Tribe coffee growers in Bommadu, Nalkeri, and Srimangala Hadi, implemented through the Budakattu Coffee Matthu Kalumenasu Uthpadakara Sangha, Nalkeri.

Established under a scheme funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, the unit provides association-produced vermicompost to its members at ₹10 per kg. Members can apply this vermicompost to coffee, pepper, arecanut, cardamom, and other crops to boost their yield.

An event to distribute the prepared vermicompost to members was organized on the 21st May 2026 at Bommadu Hadi. Dr. T. N. Gopinandhan (Pricipal Investigator) of the project, attended the event and highlighted the benefits of using vermicompost. He noted that profits generated from producing and selling the compost can be reinvested into the association's activities, adding that successful utilization of this unit could lead to the establishment of additional units for Scheduled Tribe associations.

The event was attended by:

Shri Somayya (Former Gram Panchayat President)

Ashwini Kumar (Former Coffee Board Convenor)

Shri Jade Swamy (Project Field Officer)

Shri A. Vigneshvar Raj (Project Associate)

Shri Muthappa (Farmer Producer Organization Convenor)

Members of the association

15/05/2026

Under the DST project, "Science, Technology & Innovation Hub for SC-ST Coffee Growers in Mudigere, Kalasa, Virajpet, and BR Hills Taluks of Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu & Chamarajanagar Districts of Karnataka State,"
A team of three members from Coffee Board (Dr. T.N Gopinandhan, Principal Investigator, A. Vigneshvarraj, Project Associate and Dr. B.J. Ashwini Kumar, Project Advisory Committee Member) visited to the Department of Agricultural Processing Engineering for two days from 27th to 28th April 2026 and collected the first-hand information on extraction of pectin from various waste biomasses.

15/05/2026

Under the DST project, "Science, Technology & Innovation Hub for SC-ST Coffee Growers in Mudigere, Kalasa, Virajpet, and BR Hills Taluks of Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu & Chamarajanagar Districts of Karnataka State," Bichar Unit-1 was installed on March 26, 2026, in Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI)”, Chikkamagaluru District.

15/05/2026

Photographs of the vermicompost production process at the units in Avaregunda (Kodagu district) and B.R. Hills (Chamarajanagar district)."
Vermicompost unit beneficiaries Mr. J.M. Somaiah of Avaregunda, Virajpet (Kodagu), and Mr. Jadegowda of B.R. Hills (Chamarajanagar), have achieved significant results. Following the completion of the vermicompost training program, these beneficiaries and local tribal planters successfully produced coffee-waste-based vermicompost.

15/05/2026

Under the DST project, "Science, Technology & Innovation Hub for SC-ST Coffee Growers in Mudigere, Kalasa, Virajpet, and BR Hills Taluks of Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu & Chamarajanagar Districts of Karnataka State," three eco-pulper units were installed at various locations in the Chikkamagaluru district.

Ecopulper Unit-3 was installed on March 11, 2026, in Karagadde Village, Kalasa Taluk, Chikkamagaluru District.