KARNATAKA PLANTERS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER ISSUE 2

KARNATAKA PLANTERS’ ASSOCIATON
News Letter- 2

Dear Member,
It is my privilege to present this Second News Letter to our esteemed KPA Members,
detailing the significant events and developments that have transpired since our
inaugural issue. We have experienced a period of meaningful progress, 
marked by informative Scientific Committee briengs and strategic interactions 
with Government Departments, all of which I am pleased to outline for you here.

1. Field Visit to St. Joseph Estate in Palani, Tamilnadu on 7th April, 2026.

The KPA Scientific Committee organized an exclusive Specialized Field Visit to St. Joseph 
Estate in Palani, graciously hosted by Mr. Regis Gustav. The delegation, comprised of 24 
dedicated KPA Members, spent the day exploring progressive agricultural models and 
identifying scalable methods for our own estates.

The comprehensive itinerary cantered on four foundational learning pillars:

Mechanization & Modern Technology: Practical demonstrations of advanced 
machinery designed for targeted fertilizer application, automated weeding, high-efciency 
spraying and streamlined harvesting.

Precision Irrigation Systems: A comparative look at adaptive water
management frameworks, evaluating the operational setups of drip lines, micro-sprinklers, 
overhead jets and winklers.

Cardamom Cultivation: Insights into high-yielding canopy management and 
intensive cultivation techniques for inter-cropped cardamom.

Specialty Coffee Production: Exploring premium processing protocols, micro-lot 
management, and value-addition strategies to capture premium markets.

2. Meeting with the Agriculture Minister, GoK on 13th May, 2026. 

Faced with an acute shortage of essential fertilizers (specically Urea and DAP) and severe 
systemic hurdles in corporate procurement under the mandatory Fruits ID (FID) system, the KPA 
leadership took immediate, decisive action.

The Chairman of the KPA, accompanied by the Representative of Tata Coffee Ltd., met with the 
Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture for Karnataka, Shri N. Cheluvaraya Swamy.  We clearly apprised him 
of the gridlock facing corporate plantation entities and the immediate risk to crop health. Recognizing the urgency, the Hon’ble Minister constructively facilitated an immediate joint session with Shri Y.S. Patil, IAS, Commissioner for Agriculture and Mission Director for the Department of Agriculture, Karnataka, to formulate an immediate administrative soalution.

Following our persistent representations regarding the limitations of the FID framework for 
organized plantations, the Department of Agriculture has delivered precisely on its assurances.
Through an ofcial government directive issued by the Commissioner for Agriculture, the Government of Karnataka has formally established an "Exceptional Mechanism for the 2026 monsoon season.

3. Field Assessment and Strategy for Mechanization on 22nd May, 2026.

Building on our commitment to addressing the sector's evolving labour dynamics, a specialized KPA delegation recently undertook a strategic eld visit to M/s. Keremakki Estate, owned by our Committee Member, Mr. A.P. Rajaram. Led by the Convener of the MechanizationCommittee,Dr.Khalid Saleem alongside the Chairman, Mr. Sharan Shashidhar, and the Secretary, the delegation accompanied expert technical representatives from VST to evaluate practical mechanization solutions on-site. 

During the visit, the VST engineering team closely assessed the unique challenges of the 
plantation's undulating terrain. The Committee comprehensively briefed them on specic structural 
requirements aimed at minimizing intensive labour dependencies through targeted Research & 
Development (R&D). The core engineering objectives discussed included Advanced Tree Pruners, 
Track-Based Prime Movers, High-Efciency Trenching Machinery among others.

4. Discussion on Parametric Insurance for Coffee 19th May, 2026

        I, Vice Chairman along with members of the Executive Committee, participated in two 
 critical virtual consultative meetings convened by the Coffee Board. 
The primary objective of these interactive sessions was to evaluate the draft 
parameters of the proposed Insurance Framework and provide direct, eld-level feedback. 
On behalf of the KPA, we presented structural recommendations aimed at rening and 
strengthening the scheme. Our inputs focused on ensuring the framework moves away from 
generic, short-term relief models and transitions into an effective, weather-indexed crop and 
land-loss cover that aligns with the realistic production costs and modern climatic pressures 
faced by coffee growers.

5. Meeting with the Union Bank Ofcials on 30th May, 2026.

On 30th May 2026, I, along with Past Chairman Mr. Mahesh Shashidhar, held a 
targeted, high-level meeting with Senior Ofcials of Union Bank. The primary objective of 
this interaction was to advocate for nancial relief and push for greater transparency on 
banking issues that heavily impact our members' cash ows and estate operations.
During the session, we tabled and discussed the following critical areas:

• Reduction in Interest Rates
• Elimination of Hidden Charges
• Streamlining Crop Loan Renewals

6. Stakeholders Meeting on Introducing Flavoured Coffee Standards on 11-06-2026.

On 11th June 2026, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) 
convened a pivotal hybrid stakeholder consultation under the Chairmanship of the Advisor 
(Standards, Science & Regulation), FSSAI. The primary focus of the meeting was the formal 
introduction of dedicated Flavoured Coffee Standards into national food safety regulations.
I, Vice Chairman and few members of the Executive Committee participated actively 
in this session. The joint delegation provided eld-level perspectives to ensure that upcoming 
benchmarks clearly differentiate premium bean quality, protect authentic labelling and 
establish strict, safe baseline rules for permissible avoring agents. 

7. UPASI Meetings:

I had attended the UPASI EC Meeting held on 17th June, 2026 by Virtual.
 
8. KPA Circulars:

The following circulars were sent from the KPA ofce by e-mail and post.  I request 
members to go through the same. 

a)  Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) to Staff from 01-07-2026 to 30-09-2026.
b) Notication - Modalities & Application for Financial Support to R & G Units & Curing  
Units - ICDP - 16th FCC.
c) Member Advisory : Operationalization of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee
Scheme (ECLGS 5.0)
d)  Coffee Board listing of the approved Foreign Promotional Events.
e)  Awareness and Interactive Programme Tailored for the Coffee Growing Community

With Best Wishes & Warm Regards, 
Yours sincerely, 
M. Salman Baseer
Chairman 
30th June 2026