Coffee Cultivation for Income Generation for Local People in Chikhaldara, District Amravati, Maharashtra State

Coffee cultivation and production in India is dominant in the hill tract of South Indian states like Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu. They produce 5% of the world output but export 80% of its production. India is ranked 6th in the world. Compared to these three states Maharashtra also important because in Maharashtra, because in Maharashtra, Chikhaldara is prime cultivating for coffee but percentage is negligible, still it helps in generating income for local people. Britishers has planted coffee in Chikhaldara in the year 1839, the place where had coffee plantation was in about 70 acres, but there has been a gradual fall since they left. Most of the people high lights Chikhaldara is famous as a hill station or tourist place. But if we high light the uniqueness of Chikhaldara is only place in Maharashtra coffee producing region so tourist also can attract to see coffee gardens and markets. Local people who sell coffee claim that the variety of coffee Rubusta has a different aroma. Coffee plantation of Chikhaldara is successfully providing employment to local people. Hence the purpose of the present paper is to described and interpret the coffee cultivation is an income generation for local people in Chikhaldara.