Coffee acreage in AP to double by '07

The Coffee Board has targeted to double the coffee cultivated area in Andhra Pradesh by the end of 10th five-year plan, said Laxmi Venkatachelam, the chairperson of Coffee Board.

Addressing the two-day Visakha Coffee Utsav that kicked off on Sunday, Laxmi informed that currently 23,559 hectares of land were under coffee cultivation in AP, and the coffee production in the state touched 2,984 tonnes.

"Coffee cultivation generates significant wealth in AP, especially among the tribals in the agency areas," she said.

"Coffee has been treated as a health drink. It has several medicinal properties. In an attempt to create awareness among the public and medical practitioners, Coffee Board is organising a seminar on February 14 at Bangalore," Laxmi Venkatachelam informed.