New Delhi: illycaffè S.p.A., the world''s leading roaster of quality Espresso coffee, has extended the closing of entries for the second India Coffee Quality Prize for Espresso by 10 days, till March 31, 2004. The contest was earlier to close on the 20th of March.

illycaffè said that growers in the coffee regions of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala had experienced a delay in harvest due to seasonal conditions, and had made a representation requesting an extension. According to illycaffe, the contest has been generating an enthusiastic response from growers across the regions.

The company has stepped up activities in India over the last one year, since it first launched the Coffee Quality contest as a means of identifying plantation owners, with whom it then sets up direct partnerships, providing training and technical know-how. The aim for the company is to raise quality over a period of time by introducing the growers to better agronomical practices.

Senior officials of the Company have been travelling frequently to India. Dr. Andrea Illy, CEO of illycaffè, has visited India twice, most recently as part of the business delegation at the India-EU Business Summit held in November 2003. Dr. Ernesto Illy, Chairman of illycaffe, was in Bangalore in February to address a symposium on Coffee and Health, organised by the Coffee Board of India.

Last month, the Company received ISO: 14001 certification, which defines the requisites for setting up an Environment Management System. This is the third significant certification that illycaffè holds - having earlier obtained product certification from Qualitè France. illycaffe follows quality management systems in conformity with ISO: 9001-2000.

According to the company, the award process for the India Coffee Quality Prize is carefully designed and executed to ensure participation from all interested growers. Careful screening enforces strict adherence to standards in the quality of the beans that are grown. The process of receiving entries and evaluation also helps the company identify growers of quality Arabica Espresso beans, who satisfy its standards of aroma, bitterness and organoleptic qualities. These growers then become suppliers to illycaffè.

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. ICO figures indicate that for the first time in five years, the estimated world output is lower than the estimated consumption. As a result, Indian growers have noted a ''growing appreciation'' of Indian coffee in European and other nations.

The annual illycaffè coffee quality award carries a citation and cash award of US$ 10,000 for the first prize winner, while the first and second runners-up are awarded certificates with US$ 7000 and US$ 5000 respectively.

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

illy says that it fosters long-term collaborations with the world''s coffee growers in Brazil, Central America, India and Africa, providing know-how and technology and offering above-market prices.