Clark Theological College (CTC) in Aolijen, Mokokchung, took a significant step towards combining education with environmental stewardship with its recent Awareness Program on Coffee Plantation and Its Benefits, held recently on August 8, 2024 at CTC’s Multi-Purpose Hall. This initiative marks a key development in CTC’s broader goal of integrating practical agricultural education with sustainability efforts.
The program highlighted the Coffee Farm Project at CTC, which began three years ago. Dr Temsuyanger elaborated on how CTC has dedicated about eight acres of its 60-acre land to this Sustainable Project, aiming to create an ecologically sustainable environment, provide financial aid to needy students, and offer valuable skills to seminarians. The coffee farm, which spans approximately three acres and houses around 3,050 Arabica coffee plants, was started in 2023 and is a key component of this initiative.
The College hopes that the coffee farm will serve as a significant source of revenue, making the college more financially sustainable and helping to meet the project’s other objectives.
The Coffee Farm Project reflects CTC’s commitment to blending education with sustainability. By involving students in hands-on agricultural practices, the project not only supports the college’s financial stability but also contributes to environmental conservation. The farm serves as a practical learning platform, helping seminarians gain insights into sustainable farming practices and the interconnectedness of various agricultural components.
Creating an ecologically sustainable environment is at the heart of the sustainable project. ”CTC is committed to using environmentally friendly practices that conserve resources, reduce waste, and promote biodiversity. Our integrated farming approach ensures that, in the coming years, CTC will gradually maximize the use of campus land while maintaining a healthy, productive, economically sustainable, and eco-friendly environment and community,” an update received here said.
After the program, Temjenwati Jamir, Project Manager of CTC, along with officials from the Coffee Board, also visited the CTC Coffee Farm.The program was led by Dr Temsuyanger, with Rev Dr A Tali Ao, Academic Dean of CTC, welcoming and introducing the guest speakers. The event featured Jayanta Ghosh, Deputy Director (Extension) of the Coffee Board, Jorhat, as the resource person, accompanied by N Imti Imchen, Extension Inspector, Coffee Board, Mokokchung, and Kayia CH Arche, Junior Technical Assistant, Coffee Board, Mokokchung.
Jayanta Ghosh highlighted the importance of imparting coffee cultivation knowledge to students and transferring this technology to remote areas of Nagaland and beyond. He elaborated on the techniques used in planting and nurturing coffee saplings and discussed the health benefits of coffee.