The Karnataka government has approved ₹25 crore to establish 2,500 coffee kiosks called Akka Cafes. These kiosks will be run by women trained under Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil announced this after inaugurating the India International Coffee Festival on February 12 at Bengaluru's Palace Grounds. The initiative aims to strengthen the coffee value chain and empower women by creating employment. The Coffee Board and the National Rural Livelihood Mission–Karnataka are training one lakh women in coffee brewing, cafe management, and entrepreneurship. The state also provides scholarships to children of workers employed in coffee estates, especially in Kodagu district, said Minister Patil. "It was encouraging to see coffee growers branding and showcasing their produce at the festival," Patil remarked. One example is the ‘Kala Loka’ outlet at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, which features coffee alongside more than 45 GI-tagged products from Karnataka with unique packaging. Karnataka is India’s largest coffee producer, with coffee grown on 2.2 lakh hectares. The districts of Hassan, Kodagu, and Chikkamagaluru contribute nearly 75% of the country’s coffee output. The festival gathered growers, processors, exporters, roasters, café operators, equipment makers, professionals, and consumers all under one roof, Patil added.