bibi estate, sunticoppa, karnataka, india

Located at 800m ASL the farm is near the town of Suntikoppa and is at the centre of this lush and fertile coffee growing region.

This 250 acre plantation produces coffee and pepper-corns and has been in Faiz Musakutty’s family for over 50 years.

When we first met with Faiz several years ago we were impressed to hear him explain about how he has worked hard to create an exemplary farm undertaking extensive replanting to reinvigorate the aging trees throughout entire estate and by managing the farm under sound environmental and social conditions.

Coffee trees are grown under beautiful indigenous shading trees of Silver Oak and Rosewood that provide a habitat for numerous bird species.   Although the farm is not certified organic, no herbicides are used and weeds are chopped and removed by hand then used to form mulch layer. Coffee cherry pulp is composted to create important organic fertilizer for the coffee trees. 

Up to 100 pickers may work on the farm during harvest time; with up to half living on site. They are provided with subsidised food, free housing, electricity and health care facilities. After they complete their work day on the plantation, they continue their daily chores grinding wheat for flour, collecting wood for fire and washing their clothes on the stones by the river bank. This is the daily life of working on Bibi plantation.