Mokokchung, October 31 (MTNews): P P Choudhury, Deputy Director (E) of Coffee Board, Jorhat; N. Imtisungchit Imchen, Extension Inspector of Coffee Board Mokokchung; and L. Temsu, Assistant Inspector of Land Resources Department, Mokokchung visited some coffee estate planted during the current season under Merangkong village on October 27 and conducted a village level meeting.
A press release from the Senior Liaison Officer, Coffee Board, Mokokchung on Monday said that, in the meeting, Choudhury stated that the Coffee Board has taken up an expansion program with support from technical advisory. The Coffee Board, according to him, will also extend financial assistance to create new coffee holdings and rejuvenate it.
According to Choudhury, infrastructure facilities like huller, pulpers, drying yard etc. will also be improved “in order to improve the quality of the coffee and market support for easy disposal of coffee.”
So far, he mentioned that the Land Resources Department, Mokokchung has raised 3 lakhs of Robusta coffee nursery seedlings in Tzudikong (10th Mile) during the season 2021-22 (planting 2022).
Choudhury also proposed to organize an “On Farm Training” for coffee growers of Merangkong village in the month of November this year saying that one of the great assets of Nagaland is the richness of its diversity.
According to him, a good Indian coffee exhibits characteristics similar to Indonesian coffees, particularly Java Arabica including a full body yet with acidity more in line with a good Guatemala coffee.
“The spicy flavors of a fine India coffee may include notes of cardamom, clove, pepper and nutmeg and perhaps hints of tropical fruit,” he added.
He also mentioned that because Nagaland’s coffees are grown under a continuum of shade system under the natural forest, the Nagaland coffee is unique in its flavor and taste.
“In short, consumers are not drinking more coffee, but they are just choosing to drink better coffee. This is evident that there is huge scope for coffees in the state,” he noted.
Owing to favorable soil and climatic conditions, he believes that there is immense scope and potential for coffee plantation in the state and that coffee could emerge as a viable alternative to shifting cultivation for Jhum farmers, especially in areas where rubber is not feasible.
He further mentioned that coffee is of high value with global economic significance having great potential in foreign exchange both for the country and state in particular. He also informed that all Coffee Board Subsidy Schemes have ended on September 30, 2022. “New subsidy schemes of Coffee Board during 15th Finance Commission are waiting for approval from the Government of India,” he informed.
N. Imtisungchit Imchen, Extension Inspector of Coffee Board Mokokchung said the spurt of coffee shops in the towns and cities of North East India have also spiked the domestic consumption and have increased coffee cultivation in recent years.
Taking examples of various coffee businesses such as, The Nagaland Coffee, Naga Hills Coffee and Ete Coffee, Imchen called it “a favorable spin off” as it creates skill-based jobs apart from contributing to growth of enterprise in the roasting and equipment segment and creating opportunities for value addition in the economy.
Coffee cultivation in Nagaland began in the 1970s with the encouragement of the Coffee Board of India. Coffee Board started its active role to promote coffee cultivation during the 1970s as a Tribal Amelioration Program providing continuous and gainful employment to the tribal/local inhabitants by winnowing them from the hazardous Jhum practices and also to improve socio-economic conditions of the tribal groups.