Coffee most promising crop for Nagaland: Chief Secy to growers

Sendenyu: With the global growth of the coffee industry, Nagaland Chief Secretary J Alam assured coffee growers in the state that coffee is the most promising crop.

During an interaction Thursday with coffee growers at Sendenyu village under Kohima district, Alam said that, as coffee is commercially viable, there is a huge potential for the crop in the state. Nagaland has set a target to cover 50,000 hectares for coffee plantation by 2030. 

The chief secretary credited the first generation entrepreneurs for boosting the growth of coffee in the state. Highlighting that the soil in the state is fertile, he said that land-based activities like coffee plantations are viable and sustainable. 

Impressed by the coffee plantation at Sendenyu, the chief secretary said that the project is a good example of the partnership between the department of land resources and the farmers. He also lauded the conscious efforts of the villagers towards biodiversity conservation. 

While assuring the state government’s support, he encouraged the farmers to not give up, and make Sendenyu a progressive village. 

Meanwhile, Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Y Kikheto Sema shared that so far 10,000 hectares across the state has been covered for coffee plantation. 

The officer emphasised that agro-based industry is the way forward for the state, as unemployment crisis continues to deepen in the state.

Recalling how coffee was once a failed crop in Nagaland, he said that all efforts must be collectively made to sustain Nagaland coffee, which has now made it to the international market.

Following an agreement signed with South Africa on June 21, 2017, he said that Nagaland coffee is now exported at international rate. 

Discouraging the practice of Jhum cultivation, Sema added that coffee plantation must be promoted as it grows alongside other plants and trees. 

He also urged all agri and allied sectors to work collectively for the growth of the state’s economy. 

At Sendenyu, which is about 25 km from Kohima, the Kebentsin Agri and allied cooperative society began a coffee farm in 2015, covering approximately 26 hectares under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana- Water Shed Component (PMKSY-WDC).

A member of the society shared that in 2020, 300 kg of coffee was harvested and sold to the department, while 6,000 saplings were planted. 

In 2021, 1.40 lakh coffee saplings have been planted by the society which comprises 22 households from Sendenyu.

The harvest has, however, been delayed this year due to deficient rainfall. Besides machinery assistance, the society has urged the government for an all-weather road linking to the coffee farm. 

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