Prime Minister Modi praises Koraput Coffee in Mann Ki Baat radio address

Koraput: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised Koraput Coffee for its exquisite flavour and described it as the pride of Odisha during his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address. “Some time ago, many people from Odisha shared their thoughts with me about Koraput Coffee. They wrote to me, requesting that Koraput Coffee should be featured in Mann Ki Baat,” the PM said.

“I have been told that Koraput Coffee has an extraordinary taste, and beyond its flavour, coffee cultivation itself is proving beneficial for people. In Koraput, there are some individuals who are cultivating coffee purely out of passion. They had good jobs in the corporate world but loved coffee so much that they entered this field and are now succeeding in it,” he said.


He added, “There are also many women whose lives have seen positive changes because of coffee. Coffee has brought them both respect and prosperity. It is rightly said that Koraput Coffee is exquisitely flavoured, and it is the pride of Odisha.”

PM’s mention of Koraput Coffee has brought cheer among officials and cultivators in the district. Expressing happiness, Koraput collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan said, “It’s a proud moment for the district and for everyone directly or indirectly involved in coffee cultivation. This acknowledgment will serve as a great motivation and boost for coffee plantation.”

Officials said that nearly 7,000 hectares across blocks such as Semiliguda, Dashmantpur, Laxmipur, Pottangi and Lamtaput are under coffee cultivation, largely managed by tribal women through self-help groups. These plantations produce around 600 tonnes of coffee annually, valued at around Rs 30 crore at current market rates.

A govt study has identified 1.46 lakh hectares in Koraput are suitable for coffee cultivation. “There are plans to add 800 hectares of new coffee plantations and implement shade plantations over 4,000 hectares in 2025-26. Coffee plantation has also been planned for Kotia panchayat,” the collector said.

Officials said more SHGs will be involved in processing activities to enhance production and ensure better retail presence. Branding efforts are being intensified to promote Koraput’s organically grown, high-altitude coffee as a unique product with heritage value.

“Koraput Coffee is not just a product — its a symbol of pride, tradition, and economic transformation. We are very happy that the Prime Minister has acknowledged it, said Sujay Pradhan, vice-president of Odisha Coffee Growers’ Association.