The Pollution Control Board (PCB) in India has issued a notice that requires medium- and large-scale coffee growers to use non-permeable high density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes (1.5 mm thick) to construct pits to recycle water. Additional requirements have been placed on the proximity of wastewater and water recycling pits from natural water bodies. However, while the environmental protection is appreciated, market conditions do not currently seem to support an investment on this scale for India’s coffee growers, who have not weathered the economic crisis too well. Many say they will not be able to adapt right now. Their business survival may be threatened without government support.

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