Poor Farmer

IANS March 20, 2013 New Delhi, March 20 (IANS) Ethiopia, one of the world's most ancient countries, is broadening its cultural footprint in India, with the opening of the first Ethiopian Cultural Centre, complete with a traditional coffee shop , in the capital. The centre - a sprawling facility with crafts display rooms, meeting space and an elegant coffee shop in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri - will serve the "purpose of introducing Ethiopian culture to India and to the international community", Gennete Zewide, the ambassador of Ethiopia to India, said. The centre was inaugurated Tuesday evening by the Ethiopian state minister of industry Ato Tadesse Haile in the presence of the Ethiopian envoy, Indian businessmen, a host of dignitaries from African nations, here for the 9th India-Africa Conclave, and members of the diplomatic corps. Addressing the inauguration, Zewide said the major attraction of the Ethiopian Cultural Centre was an Eth...

By Julie Jargon The Wall Street Journal March 18, 2013 Starbucks bought this 600-acre coffee farm in Costa Rica  to test best growing practices. Photo: Courtesy of WSJ Starbucks Corp. has bought its first farm, with plans to use the 600-acre property in Costa Rica to develop new coffee varieties and test methods to eradicate a fungal disease known as coffee rust that is vexing the industry. The Seattle-based coffee giant, which closed on the purchase Friday, decided to buy the farm in part because its location will allow testing of different growing methods, in order to understand what makes coffee plants thrive at different elevations. The land ranges from 3,600 to 5,500 feet above sea level. "We are talking about doing innovative things we would not be able to do without this farm," said Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz, adding that he won't rule out the acquisition of more such research farms. He wouldn't disclo...