The sustainable cultivation of coffee by the indigenous Girijan people of Paderu in Visakhapatnam agency (tribal) area of India has been awarded the Citibank Community Enterprise of the Year award.

In 2007 local people formed together as a cooperative to process and grow coffee; providing them with a steady source of income. They have since diversified into agroforestry with the aim of improving the local environment. Recently they planted their 2 millionth tree and the community sells carbon credits to multinationals who fund the project.

The Hindu Business Line reports that the cooperative comprises 11,000 farmers and employs 35 local youth as well as providing employment for women in its processing unit.

The cooperative hopes to gain organic certification and increase the per acre income from coffee in the future.

Read the full story: Girijan coffee co-op bags Citibank prize