AOFG India Regional Unit, Adimali, Kerala

AOFG India has set up one regional unit at Adimali to support 2,000 coffee growing farmers. The farmers also produce coco and spices as cash crop. The Regional Farmer Association has set up a Coffee Pulping Unit with a capacity of 2 Tones per Hour with an investment of Rs. 35 Lakhs for the value addition of coffee.

Two districts; Kottayam and Idukki, are of great importance in Kerala as they are part of the Western Ghats wherein large scale migrations took place from plains by disturbing the rainforests. The area is famous for its spices, coffee, coco, cardamom, tea, coffee, black pepper and other plantation crops. Idukki district is predominantly hilly and 50% of the area is under forest. The majority population is small and marginal farmers with a mix of tribal communities. The district was once part of Kottayam district and is having three wild life sanctuaries: - Iudkki, Chinnar and Periyar tiger reserve. The area is a biodiversity hot spot.

Women Empowerment

5 Cluster level farmer committees are promoting 75 SHGs. The SHGs have taken up Spice production processing and marketing and plantation of medicinal and aromatic plants for income generation.

Value addition of Coffee

Coffee is grown as a commercial crop and its value addition is important for income generation. The farmer association has set up a coffee pulping unit with a capacity of 2 Tones per hour. The area produces over 100 Tones of coffee.

Technical linkage and monitoring

AOFG India in association with Rajagiri Institute of Social work , management, science and technology is working for the capacity building of the farmers and farmer associations.

Expansion activities

AOFG India is working on setting up another Regional Unit at Wayanadu district which is one of the most backward 26 districts in India classified by Planning Commission Government of India. The program for coffee and spices will be promoted with NGO partnership under the partnership policy of AOFG India. The Rajagiri Institute will associate with this project on same line with Adimali project and Regional Unit.