THE MAKING OF AN AWARD-WINNING SPECIALTY COFFEE: ARAKU COFFEE’S SUCCESS FORMULA REVEALED!
If Araku Coffee has gradually made way into your heart, it is now time to dive deeper and learn more about the making of your favourite coffee. Of course, the flavours hit it just right for you, it combines all your coffee dreams and turns them into reality. But there’s more to it. A perfect score on the SCAA grading is only a miniscule reflection of what goes into the making of an award-winning coffee. Your perfect brew of Araku cuppa is a creation of years of right farming, done just the right way!
Earlier this month, New York based Rockefeller Foundation picked Naandi Foundation as a global Visionary for the #FoodVision2050 prize of USD 200,000
It all started over two decades ago – when the enchanting beauty of a valley located in the Eastern Ghats caught the eye of the team at Naandi Foundation. The region marked by severe maternal mortality and acute poverty showcased exemplary transformation, setting into motion a unique style of agriculture. The two-fold process to revive Araku region of its depleting wealth comprised of restoring livelihood for its tribal residents and biodiversity for its forests. Indigenous knowledge coupled with guidance from agriculture experts helped mark the beginning of one-of-its kind regenerative agriculture.
And this is where it all started. Arakunomics gets its name from its place of origin, playing an homage to its people, their relentless spirit and how they scripted an extraordinary success story.
BREWING THE SUCCESS FORMULA
“Arakunomics draws insights from Naandi Foundation’s work in three diverse ecosystems – tribal (Araku), rural (Wardha) and urban (New Delhi). At the core of Arakunomics lies the PQR Framework. An integrated economics model, Arakunomics ensures Profit for farmers, Quality for Consumers and Regenerative Agriculture for the soil.”
Moving forward, it was crucial to try out the organic regenerative farming methodology in varied terrains for further refinement. It took us to the length and breadth of India, giving the opportunity to work with farmers across regions. This included the drought prone region of Wardha in Maharashtra along with the seat of Green Revolution in the state of Punjab and subsequently in urban cities such as New Delhi. Gradually over 20 years, a community of over 25,000 farmer families helped us slowly yet consistently brew the success formula of organic regenerative agriculture until we hit jackpot.
FROM TRIBAL VALLEY ALL THE WAY TO PARIS
This jackpot came in the form of award winning Araku Coffee. Naandi’s unique organic regenerative methodology not only revived the natural ecosystem of the valley, but also generated a produce that had unmatched quality and taste.
In the production of Araku Coffee, a shared value framework means farmers make profits without the interference of any middlemen. There is also a consistent focus on restoring forest diversity using organic regenerative agricultural practices to ensure soil health. The result? A gourmet product in the form of speciality coffee beans promising top-notch produce quality – all these showcase the ideal chain of food production, on which Arakunomics is based.
The farmers of Araku marked their presence on the global map as producers of globally acclaimed gourmet coffee. The first single-origin 100% organic coffee retailed in Paris is native to the Araku region.
TRANSFORMATION – THE ARAKU WAY
In addition to demonstrating profitability for farmer families and creation of Araku coffee, crucial to restoring biodiversity in the region was creation of functional forests to grow cash crops in order to generate additional income for the farmer families. Today over 34,000 acres of forest has been restored and over 24.8 million trees of 19 different varieties planted in the Araku region, where tribal farmers have reclaimed their lost forest. This agricultural model has also made farming efficient and convenient for the farmer.
An added benefit came in the form of a carbon rich ecosystem. Today in Araku, nature is back in harmony with its residents.
The success formula of Araku coffee is now wooing the globe.
“#FoodVision2050 aims to secure fair profits for each farmer family in order to provide nutritional security for consumers, without any collateral damage to the environment.
The food vision involves creation of decentralised “food-spheres” or “clusters” with region specific templates for various terrains. These production hubs will be self –sufficient entities combining use of local resources for efficient production. The Arakunomics template is planned to expand and create a national “food print” in search of an alternative food system for the planet.”
To read more about our #FoodVision2050, click here
