Aadhimalai

Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Limited (APPCL) is a community-owned enterprise built by the indigenous people of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Formed in April 2013 with support from Keystone Foundation, Aadhimalai was created to strengthen the livelihoods of tribal communities. What makes Aadhimalai unique is that it is entirely owned and operated by tribal producers. Across 147 villages, they cultivate organic coffee, pepper, millets, and pulses. This collective was born from a need: to create stable markets, ensure fair prices, and protect traditional knowledge systems. Today, Aadhimalai stands as one of the first tribal-owned producer companies in India.