Hanbal Coffee Belegarara Sahakara Sangha

Our sangha, the Hanbal Coffee Belegarara Sahakara Sangha, is based at 356/78 in Agalatti Kyamanahalli, over in Sakleshpura. It is a bit of a traditional setup here because we are a cooperative society. Being in Sakleshpura, everything revolves around the coffee seasons and the weather in the hills. The building we work out of is quite old and has a lot of character, though it could probably use a fresh coat of paint. We spend a lot of time meeting with the local growers and talking about the harvest. There isn't much in the way of modern office luxury; it’s mostly wooden desks, stacks of paperwork, and the smell of raw coffee beans everywhere. The rain can be very heavy in this part of the country, which sometimes makes the roads to Agalatti Kyamanahalli a bit difficult to navigate. We just take it as it comes. Most of us have lived in this area all our lives, so the work feels very natural to us. It’s about people coming together to manage their crops and help each other out when prices are low or the weather is bad. We don't have a marketing department or anything like that. We just focus on the daily tasks of the society and making sure everyone is treated fairly. It’s a quiet, hardworking life up here in the Western Ghats, and we wouldn't have it any other way. We just keep going and do what needs to be done every day.