Cafe owners protest coffee import costs

Author: T́anâ Amkvevi 

Tamara - Local cafe owners in the bustling capital city of Tamara took to the streets for a second day to protest the exorbitant costs of coffee imports that have been affecting their businesses. Agausia, known for its love affair with coffee, boasts the highest per capita coffee consumption in the region, setting it apart from its neighboring countries, where tea is the preferred beverage.

The protest, organized by the Agausia Cafe and Hotel Owners Association (AḰSMA), saw cafe owners and their employees donning aprons and brandishing signs that read, "Save Our Cafes," and "Affordable Coffee Now!" They marched through the city streets, demanding immediate action from the government to alleviate the burden of high coffee costs.

In an interview with Marâ Novaḱi, the owner of "Café Aromas," (Ḱape Aromat́ebi) a beloved local cafe, she expressed her struggles due to the rising costs. "Coffee is the lifeblood of our cafes and a significant part of Agausian culture. However, the increasing costs have made it incredibly challenging for us to sustain our business," Novaḱi lamented. "We are being forced to pass on these costs to our customers, which has led to a decline in sales."

Novaḱi emphasized that the unique coffee-drinking habits of Agausians make their predicament even more challenging. "Unlike our regional neighbors who prefer tea, coffee is deeply ingrained in our daily lives. It is not just a beverage; it's a social ritual. We take immense pride in our coffee culture, and it's disheartening to see it suffer due to soaring costs."

The AḰSMA has been actively advocating for a reduction in coffee import duties, urging the government to consider the significant impact it has on local businesses. They argue that a reduction in costs would not only help cafe owners but also benefit the wider economy by preserving jobs and supporting local cafe owners.

With the protest gaining momentum, several Members of Parliament have expressed their solidarity with the cafe owners. Âḱob Kelisḱošḱi (AL), a prominent opposition lawmaker, spoke in support of the cause, stating, "Coffee is an integral part of our identity as Agausians. We cannot afford to let our beloved cafes struggle. The government must prioritize finding a solution to this issue."

The Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure and Development acknowledged the concerns raised by the protesters and has promised to address the issue promptly. Minister Ion Ramont́i (SD) assured cafe owners that the government is actively exploring options to reduce import costs.

Unmoved by the ministers promise the protests continued into their second day and will likely continue into the weekend. Cafe owners and Agausians alike hope that their demands for affordable coffee will be met with a favorable resolution. The future of Agausia's vibrant cafe culture hangs in the balance, with the government's response eagerly awaited by all those involved in this fight for the survival of local cafes.

 

(Agausian Translation) 

Aǵilobrivi ḱapëbis mplobelebi kmûrâni dedakalak Tamaraši meore ǵea kučebši gamovidnen, rata gaaṕrot́est́on ḱavis imṕort́is gadačarbebé karžebi, ratsëâ gavlenas akdens mat biznesze. Agûzës, romelitsëâ tsënobilâ ḱavastan sasiḱvarulo ûrtërtobit, amaḱobs regionši ert sul mosakleze ḱavis ḱvelaze maǵali mokmarebit, ratsëâ ganaskvavebs mas mezobeli kveḱnebisgan, sadatsëâ čai aris sasurveli sasmeli.

Saṕrot́est́o aktsëâ, romelitsëâ organizebé iḱo Agûsâ Ḱapesa da Sast́umros Mplobelta Asotsëatsës mër, dainaka, rom ḱapëbis mplobelebi da mati tanamšromlebi itsëvamdnen tsënsaprebs da at́râlebdnen tsëartsërebs, romlebzetsëâ etsëra: "Gadavarčinot čveni ḱapëbi" da "aklave kelmisatsëâvdomi ḱava!" Mat msvleloba kalakis kučebši moitkoves da kelisuplebisgan sastsërapo zomebis miǵebas moitkovdnen ḱavis maǵali karžebis t́virtis šesamsubukeblad.

Marâ Novaḱi-stan int́erviuši (Ḱape Aromat́ebi) saḱvareli aǵilobrivi ḱapes mplobelma, man gamokat́a tavisi bržola gazrdili karžebis gamo. "Ḱava aris čveni ḱapëbis sasitsëtsëklo sisklžarǵvi da Agûsës ḱult́uris mnišvnelovani natsëli. Tumtsëâ, mzardma karžebma tsëarmóǵenlad rté gakada čveni biznesis šenarčuneba", - tsëukda Novaki. „Čven ižulebulni vart gadavit́anot es karžebi čvens momkmareblebs, ramatsëâ gamoitsëvâ gaḱidvebis šemtsëreba.

Novaḱi kazgasmit aǵnišna, rom Agûselebis ḱavis dalevis ûniḱaluri čvevebi mat gačirvebas ḱidev ûpro rtuls kdis. "Čveni regionaluri mezoblebisgan ganskvavebit, romlebitsëâ ûṕirat́esobas aničeben čais, ḱava ǵrmad aris pesvgaǵmé čvens ḱovelǵiur tsëkovrebaši. Es ar aris mkolod sasmeli, es aris sotsëaluri rit́uali. Čven ûzomod vamaḱobt čveni ḱavis ḱult́urit da samartsëkvinó misi danakva mzardi karžebis gamo."

AḰSMA akt́iurad ûčers mkars ḱavis imṕort́is gadasakdelebis šemtsërebas da mótsëdebs mtavrobas ganikilos is mnišvnelovani gavlena, ratsëâ mas aǵilobriv biznesze akvs. Isini amt́ḱitsëben, rom karžebis šemtsëreba ara mkolod dékmareba ḱapëbis mplobelebs, aramed sargebels mót́ans parto eḱonomiḱas samušao aǵilebis šenarčunebit da aǵilobrivi ḱapëbis mplobelebis mkardačerit.

Ṕrot́est́is gaakt́iurebastan ertad, ṕarlament́is ramdenime tsëvrma solidaroba gamótsëkada ḱapëbis mplobelebs. Âḱob Kelisḱošḱi (AL), gamočenilma oṕozitsërma deṕut́at́ma, mkari dûčira mizezs da tkva: "Ḱava čveni, rogortsëâ agûsëlebis ident́obis ganuḱopeli natsëlâ. Čven ar šegvižlâ mivtsët sašualeba mivtsët čvens saḱvarel ḱapëbs bržolaši. Mtavrobam ṕriorit́et́i ûnda mëničos gamosavlis ṕovnas. Es saḱitki."

Eḱonomiḱis, inprast́rukt́urisa da ganvitarebis saminist́rom aǵâra aktsës monatsëlëbis šešpoteba da ṕiroba dado, rom drólad mógvarebs saḱitks. Minist́rma Ion Ramont́i (SD) daartsëmuna ḱapëbis mplobelebi, rom mtavroba akt́iurad iḱvlevs imṕort́is karžebis šemtsërebis varânt́ebs.

Minist́rebis daṕirebis gareše, saṕrot́est́o aktsëbi gagrželda meore ǵes da savarûdod šabat-ḱviras gagrželdeba. Ḱapëbis mplobelebi da Agûsëlebi imedovneben, rom mati motkovnebi kelmisatsëvdom ḱavaze daḱmaḱopilebé ikneba. Agûsâ-is akt́iuri ḱape ḱult́uris momavali balanszea damoḱidebé, mtavrobis ṕasuks mótmenlad eloda ḱvela, vintsëâ monatsëleobda am bržolaši aǵilobrivi ḱapëbis gadarčenistvis.