From the tribal highlands of Odisha, the Koraput district is emerging as a national success story through its coffee cultivation, transforming rural livelihood and promoting sustainable agriculture. Koraput coffee is grown under shaded forest conditions and is known for its premium Arabica beans. It is gaining global recognition under its economic and social development model.
Procurement of coffee beans has increased nearly threefold in the last few years, rising from around 34 tonnes in 2022-23 to over 100 tonnes in 2025-26. This surge reflects support and improved market linkages for tribal farmers as well as an increase in production. In 2024, Koraput Coffee won two Fine Cup Awards at the Coffee Board of India’s “Know Your Kaapi” programme, one each for the washed process and natural process categories, placing it alongside Monsooned Malabar and Mysore Nuggets on India’s speciality coffee map.
The facilitator of this transformation has been the Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation of Odisha, which has structured the process of cultivation, procurement, and marketing of production. The initiative has provided a stable income source for tribal communities by ensuring direct procurement and timely payments. As a result, hundreds of tribal families are now directly benefiting from coffee cultivation, and the growth rate shows an improvement in recent years.
Apart from the economic gains, the initiative has shown a significant social impact as the seasonal migration has decreased, and local employment opportunities in coffee cultivation have expanded. Communities living in the area are now employed and able to sustain themselves within the village. Women have emerged as central participants in the process, contributing through various activities such as harvesting, processing and retailing. Many payments are processed to women farmers directly and are strengthening their financial independence and role within the local economy.
The government has supported the Koraput Coffee ecosystem by expanding the brand’s presence through processing facilities and retail outlets. TDCCOL operates eight dedicated Koraput Coffee cafés, four in Bhubaneswar, one in Puri, two in Koraput town, and one at Odisha Bhavan in New Delhi, promoting the product in both state and national markets. These measures aim to enhance the brand’s value and deepen its identity in domestic markets.
From an environmental sustainability perspective, Koraput Coffee adds further significance. It is grown in the Eastern Ghats under shade, the cultivation process supports biodiversity, reduces soil erosion, and aligns with sustainable agricultural practices. It combines ecological sensitivity and economic viability and positions Koraput Coffee within the broader national initiatives such as “Vocal for Local”, which seeks to promote indigenous products and local enterprise.
After gaining national recognition, its profile has risen as it is being endorsed by national leadership and included in policy narratives related to rural development. Koraput Coffee is now in the spotlight, being called the “pride of Odisha”, and has become a symbol of grassroots transformation. And the country now ranks as the fifth-largest coffee exporter among producing nations.
As the initiative grows, there are plans to improve processing capacity, storage and explore access in the export markets. Koraput Coffee is steadily moving beyond a regional product and is being integrated into a state-supported agricultural and marketing framework.
