APFDC bags Rs 6.5cr orders

Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) has secured orders to export 844.80 tonnes of coffee worth Rs 6.5 crore from Araku Valley region during the crop season this year.

Addressing mediaperons on Thursday, Shiak Hussain, chairman, and K S Rao, vice-chairman and MD of APFDC, said that the corporation has achieved all-round performance, besides making its presence felt in Europe and the US, creating a brand image in the world coffee market during the last financial year.

In 2004-05, the corporation's coffee production touched 1,780 tonnes, the highest in the history of the corporation, they said.

"Although APFDC is the second largest producer of coffee in the country, it is not known internationally till last year. When Ananthagiri Estate coffee and Pedabayalu Estate Coffee repeated the performance by bagging the certificate of merit and Best Arabica for Araku region in the fine cup award competition held at Boston, USA," Shiak Hussain said.

According to him, APFDC has earned a revenue of Rs 38.11 crore during the last financial year as compared to Rs 24.37 crore in the previous year.

Interestingly, the expenditure during the last financial year was well below the revenue at Rs 33.87 crore as compared to Rs 28.03 crore in 2003-04.

Among other things, the corporation has successfully negotiated a rate of Rs 1,700 per tonne of pulpwood on the basis of its superior quality as compared to Rs 1,400 during 2003-04.