Officials, resource persons and participants during the
orientation programme on ‘Entrepreneurship opportunities in coffee and allied
sectors’ at Matipung, Diphu, on Friday.
- DIPHU — The
Regional Coffee Research Station, Diphu, in collaboration with Atal Incubation
Centre, Central Coffee Research Institute, Bengaluru, organised a one-day
orientation programme on ‘Entrepreneurship opportunities in coffee and allied
sectors’ at Sarsing Teron (Langkung Habe) Memorial Town Hall, Matipung, on
Friday.
- The orientation programme was designed to equip participants
with the necessary knowledge and skills to leverage the financial, technical,
and business support available under the Atal Incubation Centre of Coffee
Board, to foster growth, innovation, and sustainability in the coffee sector.
- The programme targeted aspiring entrepreneurs and
early-stage startups in the coffee and allied sectors, including agri-tech
startups.
- Interacting with the participants, Praveen HJ, Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of Atal Incubation Centre (AIC), Central Coffee
Research Institute (CCRI), Bengaluru, said the programme is aimed at creating
awareness among entrepreneurs about various funding schemes available for
start-ups.
- “There are various opportunities created by Coffee Board for
budding entrepreneurs by receiving funding and other support and also helping
them to get the required market facilities on coffee-based products. The Coffee
Board has plans to help the farmers, processors and entrepreneurs of the
Northeast region by offering exclusive programmes which will be implemented
very soon.
- “The Coffee Board, to promote coffee and coffee-based
products, has specially targeted the youths and women by introducing them to
capacity building programmes and helping them get value addition of the coffee
related products,” Praveen said.
- He also said that, “We are not only motivating the growers
just to grow coffee, but encouraging them to take up the value addition part as
well. Our intention is that each farmer should become an entrepreneur.”
- Of the 100 percent of coffee produced in the country, 70
percent comes from Karnataka alone followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Orisa and a
few North-eastern states, he said.
- Noting that coffee cultivation is picking up in the
Northeast region and, the CEO was of the view that many people have shifted
from tea to coffee plantation seeing opportunities in coffee.
- Dr. Atiqur Rahman Bora, Deputy Director of RCRS, Diphu said
the orientation programme is specially designed for young entrepreneurs from
Karbi Anglong to start entrepreneurship in coffee and allied sectors.
- In the technical session, Nobin Kumar Bahl Ryntathiang,
Joint Director (Extension) Coffee Board, Guwahati, briefed about coffee
development in Northeast region and the opportunities available, while Sankar
Das, Deputy General Manager, NABARD, mentioned about the various financial
support available through NABARD for farmers. Firosh Nunisa, Assistant
Director, DICC, spoke about the government schemes available for farmers.
- A total of 47 participants from Karbi Angang, other
districts of Assam, Nagaland, and Kalimpong, West Bengal, attended the
orientation programme.
