Plans afoot to serve coffee to Indian military personnel in Himalayas

With Coffee Board of India and United Planters Association of South India (UPASI) jointly launching a campaign, highlighting the inherent health benefits of coffee consumption, the Indian troops deployed in the high altitudes of Himalayan ranges could well wake up to a fresh cuppa of coffee.

Coffee Board of India and UPASI will soon begin lobbying with the Federal Ministry of Defence and Army Headquarters to include coffee in the rations supplied to the Indian troops.

Fresh roasted coffee, a non narcotic stimulant, is supplied to troops of many Western countries like France, Switzerland and Denmark, given its inherent advantages such as increasing alertness, which is a crucial attribute for troops posted at high altitudes, where drowsiness sets in early. Coffee is known to energize drinkers, provide relief from stress, besides reducing the risk of diabetes.

At present, only officers in the army are entitled to a few grams of coffee and that too only in lieu of tea, which is the only beverage served to jawans.

According to Coffee Board of India’s Chairman G V Krishna Rau, consumption of coffee in the military market, especially among jawans is a good idea. But, Coffee Board of India has its own limitations, as the Board is no longer in the coffee trade. “However, we plan to write to the Ministry of Defence through the Commerce Ministry on the inherent benefits of consumption of fresh coffee. We are also looking at ways in which fresh coffee can be easily brewed”, he said.

Anil Bhandari, a coffee planter and member of Coffee Board, said a strategy would be worked out during the next meeting of the Coffee Board of India scheduled to be held in March “on how best to about the exercise”.

The Federal Commerce and Defence Ministry have to agree to the idea. “But, before that, we will have to prepare the ground, draft out papers on why coffee is good for our troops”, Bhandari said.