The Climate Smart Coffee Project is set to transform the way coffee is cultivated by introducing a holistic set of interventions that empower farmers while addressing climate challenges.
Published Sep 07, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 07, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Coffee Beans courtesy - K-DISC
Synopsis: The Kerala government has decided to scale up its Climate Smart Coffee Project to empower Wayanad’s coffee growers — particularly marginal, small, tribal, and women farmers — by equipping them with cutting-edge practices and collective strength through cluster formations.
In Wayanad, coffee isn’t just a crop—it’s a way of life. And a climate-smart future is now brewing in the coffee farms.
Kerala has decided to scale up its ambitious Climate Smart Coffee Project, rolling out a series of initiatives — from creating a global knowledge support system and forging research tie-ups to building model climate-resilient farms.
The project, designed with carbon neutrality and sustainability at its core, is set to empower the district’s coffee growers — particularly marginal, small, tribal, and women farmers — by equipping them with cutting-edge practices and collective strength through cluster formations.
The Climate Smart Coffee Project in the district is set to transform the way coffee is cultivated by introducing a holistic set of interventions that empower farmers while addressing climate challenges.
An area under coffee cultivation.
courtesy – K-DISC
While a slew of initiatives has been planned under it with a total outlay of ₹3 crore, there are certain standout initiatives. One such is the Knowledge Programme.
Officials said the programme will allow farmers access to cutting-edge research, technology, and global best practices with the support of leading universities, research institutions, and industries.
Climate change adaptation strategies, including carbon neutrality initiatives and the establishment of model climate-smart coffee farms, will showcase practical solutions that ensure sustainability and resilience.
To boost productivity, high-yield seedlings and essential inputs will be made available through reliable agencies, ensuring farmers are equipped to meet rising market demands.
Advanced Internet of Things (IoT)-based systems for real-time monitoring of soil health, crop conditions, weather patterns, and pest dynamics will enable precise and timely farm management, reducing losses and enhancing yields.
Recognising the challenge of unpredictable rainfall, farmers will be supported with modern irrigation facilities such as drip systems, rainwater harvesting, and soil moisture monitoring to optimise water use.
The creation of custom hiring centres is another initiative. This is expected to provide farmer groups with easy access to advanced machinery and services, reducing costs and improving efficiency.
In addition to that, officials said, it has been decided to initiate Kerala Coffee Limited for selecting and certifying coffee, built on the three pillars of product quality, safety, and sustainability.
It is being pointed out that it will transform the future of coffee farmers.
“By ensuring global-standard certification, our farmers gain direct access to premium international markets, boosting income and recognition. Along with that, efforts will be carried out to participate in World Coffee Conferences abroad, with representation by a general farmer, a woman farmer, and an SC/ST farmer. This will amplify the diverse voices of India’s coffee community while showcasing their produce on a global stage,” said an official of the Industries Department.
Additionally, a survey and data collection of 3,500 coffee-based farming systems will also be carried out for creating farm-specific plans, fostering cluster development, and promoting Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs), ensuring knowledge-sharing and collective bargaining power.
Collectively, these initiatives will fast-track the district’s journey toward climate-smart, sustainable, and globally competitive coffee cultivation.
The Climate Smart Coffee Project is Kerala’s ambitious bid to give Wayanad’s famed Robusta beans a global identity.
Coffee Beans
Conceived under the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) and the Industries Department, the project will aggregate locally grown coffee, standardize its processing, and market it as authentic ‘Wayanadan Kappi’ in India and Europe.
Implemented through Kerala Coffee Limited under the Carbon Neutral Coffee Park initiative, the project blends sustainable farming, eco-friendly practices, and modern technology in a unique hub-and-spoke model.
Beyond improving farmer incomes through state-of-the-art processing facilities, it seeks to build climate resilience, promote ethical production, and position Wayanad as a beacon of sustainable, high-quality coffee farming.
Nearly 68,000 farmers nurture coffee across the district, and over 80 percent of them do so on tiny plots of less than a hectare. These smallholders, working side by side with their families, form the backbone of the region’s economy and culture, making up nearly a quarter of Wayanad’s population.
According to K-DISC, the farmers’ resilience and commitment are what keep the aroma of Wayanad’s coffee alive, despite the many challenges they face.
Earlier in 2024, the World Bank approved $200 million Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization (KERA) Project, a programme to support farmers in the state to adapt to climate change and promote agri-entrepreneurs to market value-added products. These include replanting of climate-resilient varieties of coffee, cardamom, and rubber, and help expand Kerala’s “food parks” into rural areas.
The objective of the Climate Smart Coffee Project is to promote shade-grown, climate-smart cultivation practices that build resilience against the challenges of climate change.
The project emphasises support for marginal, small, and tribal farmers by boosting productivity, improving incomes, and ensuring coffee quality throughout the supply chain, while also encouraging certification that aligns with global standards of quality, safety, and sustainability.
“Conservation of natural resources like soil, water, and biodiversity will be achieved through scientific farming practices, while mechanization is encouraged to reduce production costs, enhance quality, and improve efficiency, supported by skilled labour pools. Renewable energy adoption will drive an energy-efficient coffee sector, complemented by the creation of a Carbon Smart Village Coffee Park that will provide farmers with facilities for processing, training, quality testing, demonstration, and marketing to ensure that value addition benefits the primary producers themselves,” said an official of the Industries Department.
It is also being pointed out that the project also aims to secure premium markets for high-quality Wayanad Robusta through branding, marketing, and international promotion, while encouraging intercropping and shade farming systems that improve income and resilience.
Specialty coffee production and product diversification, including cold brews and other value-added innovations, will be promoted to help farmers secure better prices, supported by fair trade practices and modern processing. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for carbon-neutral coffee farming will be developed, alongside systematic data collection to guide research and innovation.
The initiative is also expected to leverage ICT to transform conventional farming into smart agriculture, ensuring women’s empowerment through climate-smart farming clusters. Finally, the financial resilience of farmers will be strengthened through crop-based financing, warehouse receipts, and crop insurance schemes.
At its core, the Climate Smart Coffee Project, officials said, directly addresses the challenges faced by Wayanad’s coffee farmers by equipping them with modern tools, technologies, and sustainable practices to thrive amidst climate change.
If implemented in its true spirit, the Climate Smart Coffee Project could well script a new future for Wayanad’s famed Robusta — one that is sustainable, globally competitive, and farmer-centric.
Yet, as with many ambitious schemes, the real test lies beyond policy papers and announcements.
At the same time, as farmers point out, the promise of IoT-driven farming, climate-resilient practices, and premium markets will matter only if they translate into tangible benefits for small, tribal, and women farmers on the ground.
For now, Wayanad’s coffee fields hold both the aroma of hope and the caution of uncertainty — waiting to see whether this ambitious brew lives up to its promise.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
