Minister brews big hopes for Nagaland coffee

Dimapur, June 1 (EMN): Nagaland state minister for Planning & Coordination and Land Revenue Neiba Kronu is said to have visited Brazil and South Africa to "study" coffee plantations and "to encourage massive farming in the state to boost the state economy." He believes that "coffee can boom" in Nagaland, according to updates from the department. This was stated in a press release that was issued on Saturday by the minister's establishment; it was appended by Thomas Thailu, officer on special duty for Planning and Coordination. During the visit to said countries, the minister interacted with farm owners and entrepreneurs, the updates stated. According to the press release, Kronu was stated to have opined that the "right type (of coffee) for the right altitude" was most important. That way, he said, coffee farmers will not be discouraged and thereby "we don’t lost the opportunity where we can excel." In Brazil Kronu visited Cana Verde farm house, established in 1881, the press release stated. He was taken to the countryside and shown how Arabica coffee is grown in Brazil. Later, he visited a "factory site" and saw how coffee was processed. Likewise, he visited the institute of Biology in Sao Paulo, the updates stated. There, the head of scientific research publisher Mercia (no surname given in the press release), explained how Arabica coffee of both the red and yellow varieties besides other horticulture crops are grown in the country, the press release stated. At Cape Town in South Africa, Kronu met with Dr. Pieter Vermeulen, stated to be a "third generation from his family" in coffee farming. According to the press release "he is the key man in promoting state coffee (sic) to South Africa." Vermeulen has been doing research in the coffee industry for 24 years and has been promoting "Nagaland coffee" since 2015, the department stated. The Nagaland minister was said to have requested Vermeulen to "get the right coffee seed for Nagaland and also find the market avenues as he is in touch with Land Resources department." In turn, Vermeulen assured the Naga politician to "get the right seedling from a friend who works for United Nations in Myanmar," the updates said. "Kronu stated besides coffee, Nagaland economy can be improved through spices like cardamom, black pepper and honey production," the press release stated. "Apart from these, bamboo can also be one of the main economy (sic) that the state can produce, and appreciated the honourable chief minister for taking the initiative on bamboo at the right time with Taiwan government."