BAN to organise seminar on ‘future perspectives on sustainable coffee’

DIMAPUR — The Business Association of Nagas (BAN) is all set to organise a two-day Nagaland International Coffee Seminar (NICS) on October 1 and 2 at Hotel Acacia, Dimapur, on the theme ‘Beyond the brew: future perspectives on sustainable coffee’.

The seminar is supported by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

This was announced by the convenor of the NICS, Nukuzo Phesao, during a press conference at the BAN secretariat office, DC Court Junction, Dimapur, on Monday.

Phesao informed that the seminar will offer participants a firsthand experience of the international market through interactions with international speakers, namely, Jaco Janse Van Rensburg, an entrepreneur and business consultant from Somerest West South Africa; Peter Vermulen, founder of Noble Cause, South Africa; and Calvin Botes, founder of Merkava Coffee, from Somerset West, South Africa.

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Representatives from various government departments of Nagaland will also participate in the two-day seminar.

This exposure will provide valuable insights into the global coffee industry, helping entrepreneurs gauge the potential of Nagaland coffee in the international market and motivating them to venture into this sector, he said.

Phesao informed that they are organising this seminar as there is a gap in the coffee industry in Nagaland and to fill this gap, they designed to bring together growers, producers, traders, aggregators, roasters and major coffee brands.

The main objectives are to provide local entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn from experts, showcase Nagaland coffee’s unique qualities, and elevate Nagaland coffee’s profile on both national and global scales.

This exposure will provide valuable insights into the global coffee industry, helping entrepreneurs gauge the potential of Nagaland coffee in the international market and motivating them to venture into this sector, Phesao said.

Additionally, the seminar is aimed at knowledge exchange and networking that will facilitate collaborations and partnerships within the coffee community and sustainable development, which will contribute to the sustainable growth of the coffee industry in the region.

Co-convenor of NICS, Lemjan Phom, expressed that having worked closely with farmers, particularly coffee farmers, she observed that many farmers were left without proper guidance on pre-harvest and post-harvest management techniques, which has significantly impacted crop yields.

“For instance, the production of large cardamom has drastically declined in the state, especially this year. The situation is so dire that many farmers are losing hope,” she said.

On the positive side, Lemjan noted that over the past two years that she has been working with coffee farmers, the data showed that their yields have been increasing season by season and on average, the farmers were able to harvest around 800 to 1,000 kilogrammes of coffee cherries per day in various districts.

She further mentioned that several districts are emerging as key players in coffee production and that last year, the best quality coffee came from Wokha district, followed by Mokokchung, Kohima, Zunheboto, Mon, and Longleng.

Peren, Noklak, Kiphire, Niuland and Phek districts are also showing promising signs, she added.

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