Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 23
Land Resources Department, Kohima district, in collaboration with Coffee Board of India, will be planting 3 lakh coffee saplings covering over 100 hectares in Kohima district by this year end. This was announced by Dr. Menuosetuo Tseikha, District Project Officer, LRD, Kohima, during the one-day field demonstration on Coffee plantation for Kohima district held at Khruzie, below NPSC office, Kohima. The DPO Kohima, in the presence of P.P. Choudhury, senior liaison officer, Coffee Board of India, said that the department concerned has embarked on the venture for wide Coffee plantation in Kohima district.
Talking to farmers who attended the field demonstration, the senior liaison officer of North East region, Choudhury encouraged them (farmers) to become Coffee growers in order to make a sustainable livelihood. He insisted that Coffee plantation would be able to lift the economy of the farmers in Nagaland, provided they are sincere and serious in the said venture.
He told the farmers not to doubt the potentiality of Coffee plantation citing reasons that Nagaland and Kohima in particular has suitable climate for Coffee to grow.
It may be mentioned that Coffee plantation in Kohima district has come as a new venture for the farmers as compared to other districts like Mokokchung, Wokha, Zunheboto and Mon where Coffee plantation has already taken shape.
At the site, Choudhury demonstrated to the farmers the methods and techniques on Coffee plantation. Citing the importance of the technical know-how, he taught the farmers on every technical aspect.To encourage the farmers to involve in planting coffee, he also shared about the welfare measures and provisions that are laid down for Coffee growers under Coffee Board of India.
“In becoming a grower, there are provisions for a farmer to avail machineries in subsidized rates of 75%. The machineries includes handsaw, pit digger, grass sprayer and cutter tractor,” Choudhury informed.
He further informed that the Coffee Board of India assists growers in providing water augmentation or water harvesting structures, so that it helps them during dry seasons.
He further informed that the board has also provision for labours’ welfare, and stipend for the children of Coffee growers.
He made it clear that the Coffee Board will provide all the necessary assistance for plantation maintenance and marketing of the produce.
The field demonstration was attended by 107 farmers from all parts of Kohima district, including Tseminyu sub-division, including Kohima LRD staffs.
