Dimapur, Aug. 3 (EMN): The deputy commissioner of Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan, launched a coffee bar named ‘Native Brew’ in the office of the district project officer (DPO) under the Land Resources department, Dimapur, on August 3.
Speaking on the occasion as the special guest, the DC lauded the department of Land Resources for initiating the project to promote coffee consumption. Considering the support given by the Coffee Board of India (CBI) towards promoting coffee plantation and improve the market linkage, the DC urged upon the coffee growers in Nagaland to avail the opportunity.
Mentioning that India stands as the 6th major coffee producer in the world wherein it is being further projected to increase from 15 to 18% from the current level, he encouraged the department to keep up with their awareness programmes and continue to support the coffee farmers.
The deputy director of Land Resources, who is also the supervisor of Dimapur district, Puvil Kikhi, while highlighting on the history of coffee plantation in Nagaland, stated that during the early 80s, informed that the Nagaland Plantation Crop Development Corporation, a joint venture of CBI and the state government in 1981 was a success. He, however, informed that most of the coffee plantation farms, except for few districts like Wokha, Mokokchung, Mon and Zunheboto were abandoned since CBI could not arrange market for the coffee farmers.
He went on to say that during 2014-15, CBI had signed an agreement with the Land Resources department for taking up coffee plantations. Since 2015, coffee plantations started in earnest and since 2016 there was no turning back, Kikhi maintained.
He informed that presently 8996 hectares of coffee plantation has been developed in Nagaland. He added that a total of 1003 hectares has been developed in collaboration with CBI last year alone.
Spelling out the department's vision for 2020-30, Kikhi informed that the department has earmarked to develop 50,000 hectares of coffee.
“If we can develop 50000 hectares, the state would be able to generate a revenue of INR 1630 crore,” he explained. Further, he said that till date (2019-20), the department has exported 27.5 metric tonnes of coffee to South Africa..
He added that the Company has agreed to buy all the coffee products coming from Nagaland. Kikhi also informed that two of the department's staff were trained for coffee development in Kathmandu from the British Coffee School. The trainers would be imparting training to the educated unemployed youth across all the districts of Nagaland starting from August 10 this year, Kikhi said.
He also informed that the department is promoting natural tea including butterfly pea tea, gooseberry tea, sumac tea, fresh ginger tea, rosella tea, cinnamon and moringa tea.
Meanwhile, the DPO of Dimapur, I Acato Chishi, stressed that coffee could be taken up as an enterprise. He also announced that all visitors to the coffee bar would be offered (American, Expresso, Latte) coffee drinks free of cost with an aim to develop coffee drinking culture in Nagaland.
Special invitees including ADC of Dimapur Atokhe, CCF Hukato Chishi, joint director of Industries and Commerce Tokugha, DHO Dimapur Temsu Longkumer, district soil conservation officer and DPRO Dimapur were present at the event.