New Delhi: Italy-based illycaffè S.p.A., the world''s leading roaster of quality Espresso coffee has opened the India Coffee Quality Prize for entries in its second year. The award, for growers of quality Arabica plantation A coffee beans will be open for entries upto March 15th.

The rigorous award process is carefully designed and executed to ensure participation of all interested growers, and careful screening to enforce strict adherence to quality of the beans. Under the competition, growers of Quality Arabica Plantation A coffee beans in India have to submit their samples, for evaluation to the Bangalore-based Coffeelab, a laboratory for evaluating the technical nuances in Indian coffee.

Coffeelab would be managing and executing the evaluation of the award for illycaffè in India. After preliminary evaluation, expected to be completed by June 2004, approved samples will be sent illycaffè at Trieste in Italy, for further evaluation. It may be recalled that the India Coffee Quality Prize instituted by illycaffè last year had an overwhelming response in the first year itself. In 2003, after a nearly ten-month rigorous process of evaluation, the winners were the Nagambika Estate from Chikamagalur while the runners-up were Thambarekhan Estate also from Chikamagalur and Warthully Estates, Bangalore.

illycaffè had announced the continuation of the awards as an annual feature. The first prize carries a citation and cash award of US$ 10,000, while the first and second runners-up are awarded certificates with US$ 7000 and US$ 5000 respectively.

The best coffee in each region of growth in India, if it comes within the final 15 lots is also awarded a Certificate of Regional Champion. The top 15 growers get Certificates of merit. The award comes at a significant period for the Indian coffee economy when coffee exports from India have gone up in the 2003-04 fiscal. Total shipments for the calendar year were 30,927 tonnes, up from 29,170 tonnes in 2002-03. Permits have been issued for 1,48,430 tonnes as against 1,34,486 tonnes in the previous year.

ICO figures estimate that for the first time in five years, world output is lower than consumption expected. As a result, Indian growers have noted a ''growing appreciation'' of Indian coffee in European and other nations. This is partly due to the Coffee Board''s export promotion efforts and partly because of illycaffè''s interest in Indian coffee. "From the very first year, our aim has been that the illycaffè India Coffee Quality Prize should become the catalyst for a quality movement among the coffee growers", said Dr. Andrea Illy, CEO of illycaffè. "Our experience last year has reinforced that belief. We are buying about 4 percent of the Arabica plantation A Coffee in India and plan to significantly increase sourcing from here. I see great potential for a continually growing partnership amongst us and Indian coffee planters."

A major component of the illycaffè coffee quality award system is that it creates partnerships directly with plantation owners, providing training and technical know how. The aim is to raise quality over a period of time by introducing the growers to better agronomical practices. The India Coffee Quality Prize is modelled on the famous Brazil Quality Award, also instituted and administered by illycaffè, now running for over thirteen years. As in Brazil, the annual India award would enable Indian Arabica growers to join the elite ranks of suppliers of coffee beans to illy, for processing and marketing under its brand.

illycaffè, based in Trieste, Italy, produces and markets a single blend of 100 percent pure Arabica coffee worldwide. It is available in more than 40,000 of the best restaurants and coffee bars all over the world, serving over 5 million cups of illy espresso coffee a day.