Koraput, Sept 22: The Department of Agriculture, Central University of Odisha (CUO), in association with Brown Valley Estates, Koraput, organised a one-day hands-on workshop on “The Coffee Journey” at the Sunabeda Campus today.

The workshop focused on various aspects of coffee cultivation, processing, roasting, brewing, value addition, marketing and the emerging market opportunities associated with coffee production.

The workshop was attended by Nick Reid, Roaster, SCA-Certified Professional Barista and Coffee Technician, and Sujoy Kumar Pradhan, Founder, Brown Valley Coffee Estate, Koraput, along with faculty members, research scholars and students of the University.

Highlighting the significance of the workshop, Dr. Manjushree Singh, Head, Department of Agriculture, said that the programme was particularly relevant for students of Agriculture, Forestry and Business Management.

She said, “From seed to cup, coffee passes through several stages involving production, processing, economics, marketing and branding. Students need to understand the complete value chain of coffee and its economic sustainability.”

Speaking on the occasion, Nick Reid said that the coffee market in India, particularly in Odisha, has considerable scope for further exploration.

Addressing the participants, Prof. (Dr.) Ajit Kumar Shasany, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Odisha, highlighted the potential of Koraput as a coffee-growing region.

He said, “Koraput produces high-quality coffee and has a favourable climate for coffee cultivation.

The workshop was mentored by Nick Reid, who provided an overview of the history of coffee, coffee cultivation and production, processing methods, roasting techniques and brewing. The participants also gained insights into the coffee value chain and the opportunities available in the growing coffee sector.